David Manley

1 month ago | tirebusiness.com | David Manley

GURABO, Puerto Rico — By this time next year, Centeno's Tire Distributors Inc. won't qualify as a small dealership. Plans call for opening two stores in 2025, in addition to two existing service shops, as well as a wholesale business that already offers free next-day delivery to anywhere in Puerto Rico. Owners Gabriel and Monica Centeno said the business really took off a decade ago with its first "big" international order: One pallet of tires.

2 months ago | tirebusiness.com | David Manley

Have you ever tripped while running up stairs? If so, then you can understand the position of federal right-to-repair (R2R) legislation. Maybe the movement got ahead of itself and lost its footing. Last year, legislation went further than any previous version thanks to a groundswell of support from both conservatives and liberals. Yes, you read that right. Members of both political parties support it. R2R is unicorn legislation, but it still failed last Congress — again (for the fifth time).

2 months ago | tirebusiness.com | David Manley

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued 23 new plant identification codes in 2024 for tire factories in 10 countries, including the manufacturing expansion of established Chinese tire makers like Sailun Group Co. Ltd., Qingdao Sentury Tire Co. Ltd. and Zhongce Rubber Group Co. Ltd. Twelve of the new DOT codes were issued for companies in China, two each in Indonesia and India, and one each in Algeria, Brazil, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan and Vietnam.

2 months ago | tirebusiness.com | David Manley

The aftermarket is "pretty good." And if it wasn't, would it tell you? It's like my father, who when asked about his wellness always replies, "Pretty good." Even when his knee was hurting, and he couldn't get up out of the recliner, he was "doing fine." (He eventually did use my help to stand up.)The specialty aftermarket has some challenges it may face this year, but overall growth will come. The market is doing fine. The challenge right now is not overreacting to uncertainty over tariffs.

2 months ago | rubbernews.com | David Manley

WASHINGTON—Thailand, Mexico and Canada were the top suppliers of tires to the U.S. market in 2024, and Cambodia made a big leap for a second straight year. The U.S. imported $19 billion worth of tires last year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The value of imports increased by 2.4 percent in 2024 compared to 2023 and is up 7.2 percent over the last two years. The U.S. imported 226.9 million passenger, light truck and medium truck/bus tires last year.