The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has announced winners of the 30th Retread Appearance Contest and Excellence in Tire Repair Contest held at the World Tire Expo (WTE) in Louisville, Ky.
Four retreads were chosen by the Tread Rubber and Repair Materials Manufacturers Group (TRMG) as Best in Show. These companies received $500 and a framed ribbon:
Passenger/light truck: Lider Remoldagem & Comercio De Pneus LTDA, Serra, Brazil, Francisco Ferreira, plant manager.
Mold cure truck: Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems LLC, Brunswick, Ohio, Darrell L. Yoder Jr., plant manager.
Precure truck: TM Tire, Crestwood, Ill., Robert Stolinski, plant manager.
Specialty: Desser Tire & Rubber Co., Montebello, Calif., Bob Maldenado, plant manager.
All of the entrants were judged based on a variety of criteria and those with the highest scores in each category were designated Best in Show.
In addition, 14 retreads were given a blue ribbons for superior appearance, nine red ribbons were awarded to those with an excellent appearance, and 30 white ribbons were awarded to those with a good appearance.
"We were delighted with the participation in this year’s Retread Appearance Contest,” said Dick Gust, TIA president. "On the 30th anniversary of this event, retreaders from around the world submitted their best work for all attendees to enjoy and admire.”
"TRMG is proud to be the sponsor and is equally proud of the craftsmanship that went into these high quality retreads," said Norm Ball, TRMG chairman. "The cash prizes for Best in Show represent our appreciation of the hard work that went into producing the excellent examples of retread technology."
The TRMG also awarded a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond to the first place winner in the Excellence in Tire Repair Contest. A $500 U.S. Savings Bond went to the second place winner, a $300 U.S. Savings Bond to third place, and a $200 U.S. Savings Bond to fourth place. The winners are as follows:
First place: Darrell L. Yoder Jr., Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems LLC.
Second place: Steve Battishill, Dempster Tire Sales.
Third place: Jermaine Franklin, Raben Tire Co.
Fourth place: Jimmie Landes, Big "L" Tire.
The contest was held throughout the WTE at various times in the TIA Action Center. Each contestant was given a 10-question quiz and judged on their ability to perform all of the necessary steps for installing a standard puncture repair in a radial truck tire. A perfect score was 100 with only seven points separating the first and fourth place scores of 98 and 91, respectively.
"We have always emphasized the hands-on demonstrations during the WTE and the addition of the Excellence in Tire Repair Contest brought more activity to the trade show floor," said Gust. "When the activity in the TIA Action Center was combined with the activity in the exhibitor’s booths, we definitely produced a working show."
"As an organization, TRMG cannot emphasize the importance of proper tire repair enough,” said Ball. "Our goal with the Excellence in Tire Repair Contest was to recognize the skill and ability of today's technicians and thank them for continually protecting motorists by repairing tires using the correct procedures, guidelines, and materials."
