Bruce Davis

Akron

Special Projects Reporter at Tire Business

Tire junkie, avid skier, proud dad

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Articles

Hoosier and Michelin strike deals with Historic Sportscar Racing

3 weeks ago | tirebusiness.com | Bruce Davis

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), the "premier" sanctioning body for historic and vintage motorsports competition in North America, has struck multi-year sponsorship and race-tire supply deals with Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. and Michelin North America Inc.
Family vibe helps Polo's Point S stand out in San Antonio

1 month ago | tirebusiness.com | Bruce Davis

SAN ANTONIO — In a market overshadowed by the major retail tire chains, Polo Rodriguez Jr. seeks to differentiate his tire and auto service business by building lasting relationships with his customers. That strategy begins with instilling that philosophy with each employee at his two outlets in San Antonio — Polo's Point S and Extreme Point S. Rodriguez, 41, is a first-generation American and a second-generation tire dealer.
TBC '24 earnings up 38% despite 10% sales drop

1 month ago | tirebusiness.com | Bruce Davis

CLERMONT-FERRAND, France — TBC Corp. generated 38.2% higher pre-tax operating income last year despite a 9.7% drop in sales revenue, according to Group Michelin, which co-owns TBC with Sumitomo Corp. of Americas (SCoA). TBC's pre-tax operating income (EBITDA) rose to $209 million on sales of $4.19 billion, yielding an operating ratio of 5%, up from 3.3% in fiscal 2023, Michelin's figures show.
Mavis Tire grows to 3,500 service shops with Midas deal

1 month ago | tirebusiness.com | Bruce Davis

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Mavis Tire Express Service Corp. is buying the Midas International franchise portfolio — considered one of the nation's largest automotive repair/tire retail businesses with systemwide sales of nearly $2 billion — from TBC Corp. The pending deal will expand Mavis Tire's retail reach to approximately 3,500 stores in the U.S. and Canada under its various brands, including up to 1,600 franchised locations, according to available data.
Trump tariffs clarified; price hikes to follow

2 months ago | tirebusiness.com | Bruce Davis

AKRON — The verdict, finally, is in. It's a 25% tariff on passenger and light truck tires and — for now — 10% on all other tire types, with wholesale price hikes to follow.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries lays out ambitious growth plan through 2035

2 months ago | rubbernews.com | Bruce Davis

KOBE, Japan—With global rights to the Dunlop brand secured, Sumitomo Rubber industries Ltd. (SRI) is embarking on a long-term growth strategy that will focus on leveraging premium tires and expanding the firm's non-tire business activities. The overriding goal of the new business plan, dubbed RISE 2035, is to double the firm's operating profit margin by 2035 into the 15 percent range, SRI documents show.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries lays out ambitious growth plan through 2035

2 months ago | tirebusiness.com | Bruce Davis

KOBE, Japan — With global rights to the Dunlop brand secured, Sumitomo Rubber industries Ltd. (SRI) is embarking on a long-term growth strategy that will focus on leveraging premium tires and expanding the firm's non-tire business activities. The overriding goal of the new business plan, dubbed RISE 2035, is to double the firm's operating profit margin by 2035 into the 15% range, SRI documents show.
Pirelli evaluating U.S. plant capacity expansion

Mar 5, 2025 | tirebusiness.com | Bruce Davis

MILAN, Italy — Pirelli & C. S.p.A. is "evaluating material investments" in the U.S. to expand its manufacturing capacity as part of contingency plans the company has drafted to address the Trump Administration's threats to impose elevated imports tariffs on Mexico and Europe.
Conifa Tires exclusive U.S. distributor of CMA Warrior TBR tires

Feb 25, 2025 | tirebusiness.com | Bruce Davis

MONROVIA, Calif. — China Manufacturers Alliance L.L.C. (CMA) has appointed Confia Tires L.L.C., a new wholesale tire distributor based in Houston, the exclusive U.S. distributor of its Warrior-brand truck tires. Confia Tires — the name is derived from the Spanish word for trust and confidence — is a partnership involving tire industry veterans Walter Weller, Feisal Shariff and Michael Milo, who bring over 100 years of combined experience to the new company.
Toyo selling majority share of China tire subsidiary

Feb 18, 2025 | rubbernews.com | Bruce Davis

HYOGO, Japan—Toyo Tire Corp.'s board of directors has agreed to sell an 86-percent share interest in its Toyo Tire Zhangjiagang Co. Ltd. (TTZ) subsidiary in Zhangjiangagan City, China, to Liaoning Hengdasheng Investment Co. Ltd.