OK Tire Stores Inc. will have exclusive access to the Blackhawk brand of tires for the next 10 years at its 325-plus stores across Canada.
"We are thrilled to be Blackhawk's exclusive partner," says Jim Caldwell, CEO and president of OK Tire Stores. "Blackhawk shares many of OK Tire's company values, making the partnership a natural fit. Our customers have high standards, and Blackhawk tires exceed those standards with their bold tread patterns and extensive use of complex rubber compounds."
Michael Rutherford, chief operating officer for OK Tire Canada, says, "Understanding our customer's needs and meeting their expectation is why OK Tire has been Canadians' go-to-choice for auto and tire service for the last 68 years. Our customers come to us because they know our dealers are qualified to know what is best for their vehicle. Blackhawk tires give us another great option to meet our customers' needs, offering consumers affordable tires that are durable, safe, and reliable throughout all four Canadian seasons."
Blackhawk will enhance OK Tire's "mid-range" tire offering, the company said, and will continue its "commitment to provide customers with great tire options at every price point."
The agreement includes both consumer tires, as well as commercial truck tires. Blackhawk tires will be available at OK Tire on March 31st. Their availability comes as OK Tire has made other changes to its brand assortment. In January the tire dealership announced it was adding Cooper and GTRadial brands to its passenger and light truck tire offerings, while also bringing the Michelin and BFGoodrich commercial products on board.
“As an icon in the Canadian tire market, we’re excited to partner with OK Tire and provide them exclusivity when it comes to selling and servicing our tires” says Mark Pereira, senior marketing manager of North America for Blackhawk. “The Blackhawk brand is focused on delivering products that can withstand the distinctive Canadian climate. Echoing the hallmarks of the common blackhawk, our tires are ready to take flight and take on anything Canadian drivers and weather can throw at us.”