Industry News Bites

Next Article

TPMS: Chrysler Pacifica – 2022

Michelin invests in Canada

Michelin North America Inc. plans to spend around $220 million to update equipment and technology in its three Nova Scotia production facilities. The investment will help Michelin respond to the demands of electric vehicles, build tires for larger passenger and light truck fitments and meet increased fuel efficiency demands for commercial trucks.

Tire Discounters expands

Tire Discounters Inc. has expanded its footprint in the greater Atlanta area by opening three locations in Conyers, Woodstock and Loganville, Ga. The new stores enlarge Tire Discounters’ presence in the Atlanta market to 14 locations and increase the dealership’s network to 194 total outlets.

ATD opens new D/C

American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) has opened a 160,000-square-foot distribution center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The facility is 40,000 square feet larger than ATD’s previous location in the area. ATD has more than 115 distribution centers.

CMA hires Tim Kelly

CMA LLC/Double Coin has named Tim Kelly its original equipment and national fleet manager. Kelly, who spent more than three decades working for Bridgestone Americas Inc., will be responsible for Double Coin truck tire sales into the OE and fleet channels in North America.

Brad Persons joins Apollo

Apollo Tyres Ltd. has named Brad Persons its new national sales head for commercial tires. In this role, Persons will oversee the company’s commercial tire sales initiatives within the U.S. and Canada. He began working in the tire industry in 2003 as a commercial tire and service salesperson.

Discount installs 2nd robot

A second Discount Tire store has installed RoboTire, a robotic tire changing system. The newest installation is in a store in Arlington, Texas. Discount Tire’s parent company, the Reinalt-Thomas Corp., is a financial investor in the robotic automation company. A Discount Tire store in Fountain Hills, Ariz., is home to the tire retailer’s first RoboTire system.

alongside a distributor’s salesforce to talk to and reach more retailers.

He acknowledges the timing has been difficult, as lots of imported products arrived stateside in bulk in 2022, leaving distributors and retailers with more stock on hand than they’re accustomed to. And in many instances, those products came with premium shipping costs.

“In the fourth quarter of 2022, distributors and retailers were really loaded with PLT product and even ST (tires). In the first quarter (of 2023), we’re starting to see levels starting to go back to normal,” says Felberbaum, noting that commercial truck tires recently have followed a similar pattern.

“So that’s a challenge, but I do believe that between Pete (Salvan, vice president of sales), Ken and myself, we have over 80 years in this industry. From our industry experience…and due to all of our relationships, this allows us to at least open the door to present our products. We want to develop long-term partnerships.”

Betting On Pickleball

Tiremakers have tried all sorts of part- nerships and sponsorships to put their brand names in front of consumers. Prinx Chengshan decided to zig where others might zag. In March, the Fortune brand was named the Official Tire Sponsor of USA Pickleball, the sanctioning body of the sport.

“We could have been like the others and tried to go the motorsports route or the off-road enthusiast route,” says Coltrane. “That’s a great way to do it, but we wanted to try something different.”

He adds there are some estimates that 10 million people are playing pickleball.

“That’s a lot of people who are driving cars and vans,” says Felberbaum, “and we’re hopeful that people who play pickleball and buy equipment support the sponsors.”

The new Fortune website soon will have a dealer locator to help consumers find their nearest retailer.

“We look at ourselves as an emerging brand. Pickleball is an emerging and growing sport that has taken off since 2019 — really since the pandemic. We’re hopeful this will lead us to new customers.” –Joy Kopcha

Belle Tire Distributors Ltd. has acquired Tireman Auto Service Centers, which further expands Belle Tire’s presence in northwest Ohio and southern Michigan.

Belle Tire acquires Tireman Auto Service Centers

Belle Tire Distributors Inc. has acquired all 18 locations of Tireman Auto Service Centers, giving Belle Tire more locations in northwest Ohio and southern Michigan.

“I can’t imagine a better partner to take over now that I have decided to retire,” says Randy Jones, CEO of Tireman.

“Belle Tire is a family-owned company (and) like us, they value their people and believe in doing the right thing for customers, like we do.”

“Absorbing Tireman into the Belle Tire family makes perfect sense,” says Don Barnes III, president of Belle Tire.

Belle Tire says the addition of Tireman will enable the company to provide better service in the greater Toledo and northwest Ohio area.

Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire entered the Toledo market 20 years ago and already had four stores in the area.