Approximately 5,504 tire industry buyers attended this year's International Tire Expo (ITE), setting a new attendance record for the Las Vegas, Nev.-based event.
The previous record for ITE tire buyer attendance was set in 1999, when 5,099 buyers attended, according to Tire Industry Association (TIA) officials.
Breaking down the total number, more than 4,000 tire and wheel dealers and more than 1,200 tire and wheel wholesalers were verified as attendees.
In addition, more than 130 tire industry companies exhibited at the 2002 ITE.
TIA did not include exhibitors and non-buyers in the attendance total.
"The association is thrilled," says TIA President Tom Raben, who took the gavel from former TIA President Steve Disney at the show.
ITE attendance totals are reported by an independent third party, according to Raben.
