font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Some
of the questions were yours. But all of the answers were addressed
to you. That was my intent when I set up interviews with top executives
from the six largest tire manufacturers in the United States.
They all have significant domestic passenger and light truck tire
manufacturing capacity, but that's where the similarities seem
to end.
The
six "consenting" executives, in the order in which they were interviewed,
were:*
managing partner of Groupe Michelin, the parent company of Michelin North America Inc. We talked by phone by way of Clermont-Ferrand,
France. I also had the chance to talk with him earlier this year
at the Michelin Americas Small Tires dealer meeting in Phoenix,
Ariz.*
chairman, CEO and president of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. Tom was the only executive who talked
with me without anyone else present.*
Bernd Frangenberg, CEO and president of Continental Tire North America Inc. The first time I interviewed
him was at the Continental General Tire dealer meeting in Las
Croabas, Puerto Rico, in 1997 (I love this job).*
president of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s
North American Tire operations. The Goodyear dealers I've talked
with say he is making the attempt to see them.*
CEO and president of Yokohama Tire Corp.
As I was driving out of the company's Fullerton, Calif., headquarters
parking lot following the interview, Mr. Ikawa was standing on
the curb to say goodbye. That's the most polite gesture I've ever
witnessed -- particularly from a high-ranking official.*
chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. I have known John since he was the personable
director of Dayton and private brand sales in North America for
the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. back in the late 1980s. He hasn't
changed much -- a little grayer, I guess.
