Registration is open for the annual California Tire Dealers Association (CTDA) /1-800EveryRim New Year Luncheon, which will take place on Jan. 20, 2022, in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Recent dealer commentary suggests that demand for consumer tires last month was higher on a net basis than it was during the same month in 2020.

Flat Tire Co. of San Antonio, Texas, is reinventing itself. The company, which started as a mobile tire service provider, has opened a brick-and-mortar outlet.

It’s always true that the owners of a tire-related business know everything about their particular business, while the parties looking to buy it know very little. Whether you are a tire retailer, a commercial tire dealer or a wholesaler, it helps to treat potential buyers as if they were your customers.

The year 2021 is drawing to a close. For independent tire dealers across the country, it has largely been a profitable - but difficult - year. With just a few weeks remaining, it’s time to take stock of the last 12 months and start looking at the next 12 months.

With an eye toward the future, Bridgestone Americas Inc. announced plans to expand its Americas Technology Center campus in Akron with the addition of a new test track.

The Michelin Group reported better-than-expected third-quarter sales in late October, due in part to a strong rebound for agricultural machinery tires.

Electric cars and their future need to be respected, says Ben Johnson, director of product management, Mitchell 1. But there is no need to panic in the automotive aftermarket.

With the proliferation of tiers of tire brands, you are likely to survive those instances in which your preferred brands are not available. Automotive parts and lubricants, on the other hand, are another story.

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) announced the election of Paolo Ferrari as chairman.

Experienced, key people are worth their weight in gold and tire dealers need to do all they can to keep them. 

Opportunities to grow your business can be right in front of you. It’s your job to pay attention, recognize that they are there and find a way to act upon them. These opportunities may not be huge and glaring. In fact, some of the most beneficial opportunities may seem small at the start.

The delta variant is the dominant strain across most of the United States, and it’s hitting stores very differently than the first wave. Dennis McCarron has a reminder: You need to remain vigilant and do what you must to continue to protect both your employees and your business’ bottom line.

“Entrepreneurship is a tough road,” says Jim Duff. “You’re exposed all of the time to pressures. But we like it.” 

Announced this past January, Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J is a “game changer,” according to Jim Duff. “And we have to make it work,” adds Tommy Duff. 

Despite its size and scope, Southern Tire Mart’s corporate structure is lean — and that’s by design. Jim and Tommy Duff work with a small leadership team at their state-of-the-art corporate office in Columbia, Miss. Several members of the group have been with Southern Tire Mart since the 1980s. 

Long before “giving back” became buzzwords, Jim and Tommy Duff - the owners of Southern Tire Mart and the recipients of this year's Tire Dealer of the Year Award - had fully embraced the practice as an outgrowth of their faith. 

They own and operate the biggest commercial truck tire dealership in the United States. Their company also is the largest retreader in the country — with its daily production eclipsing that of three different tire manufacturers. They’ve built a coast-to-coast empire spanning more than 150 stores across 15 states that is on track to hit $2 billion in sales this year. They’re Jim and Tommy Duff, the owners of Southern Tire Mart. They’re the recipients of MTD’s 2021 Tire Dealer of the Year Award. And they say they’re just getting started. 

Chris Ball, most recently president of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s Americas division, has joined Masonite International Corp. as president of the company's global residential business.