Kathy McCarron

Akron

Senior Reporter at Tire Business

Business journalist covering the tire industry for Crain's Tire Business magazine

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Articles

Fred's Tire Man finds success serving small Calif. community

1 week ago | tirebusiness.com | Kathy McCarron

OAK VIEW, Calif. — To operate a single-location tire dealership for more than 30 years, it helps to be a member of the community most of your life, according to Fred Wachter, 72. Fred's Tire Man was founded in 1990 and sells mostly tires and some undercar services to the small valley community of Oak View, population 6,000. Over the years, Wachter has seen tire dealerships come and go. He started his dealership in a four-bay shop, but after 10 years, it outgrew the facilities.
Retreaders in 'holding pattern' amid economic uncertainty

2 weeks ago | tirebusiness.com | Kathy McCarron

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Tire retreading companies in the U.S. were optimistic for increased sales in 2025 following the presidential elections, but now they are in a holding pattern, waiting to see how proposed widespread tariffs and a trade war with China will impact the economy, according to David Stevens, managing director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB).
OTR tire makers face cyclical, economic hurdles

1 month ago | rubbernews.com | Kathy McCarron

AKRON—Following a cyclical slump in the OTR equipment and tire markets in 2024, manufacturers are looking toward improved sales this year in the U.S. market. However, the Trump Administration's tariff increases on steel and other commodities, which in turn could spur a trade war, could stunt the rebound.
PGW to convert Nuttall Tire in Columbia, S.C., into large Midas shop

1 month ago | tirebusiness.com | Kathy McCarron

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Midas franchisee Palmetto Garage Works (PGW) L.L.C. has acquired Nuttall Tire & Auto Repair Center in Columbia and will be converting the independent dealership with 30 service bays into one of the largest franchise locations in Midas International's network.
Midas offering tire guarantee, digital vehicle inspection and fleet service

1 month ago | tirebusiness.com | Kathy McCarron

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla. — In 2021, Midas International franchisees faced a choice: "Evolve or dissolve."This year, the TBC Corp. subsidiary's franchise network is considered healthy and growing with goals to boost sales and increase store count. "Three years ago we had to evolve and now we are evolving.
All-weather tires may challenge all-season in Canada

2 months ago | tirebusiness.com | Kathy McCarron

EDMONTON, Alberta — For Canadian motorists accustomed to switching out their set of tires twice a year, between winter tires and all-season tires, the all-weather tire would seem to be an economical alternative. All-weather tires feature the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake designation for traction on snowy roads, but all-weathers still don't perform as well as winter tires in severe snow and ice conditions.
Stokes Tire shop spared from Calif. wildfires but community was not

Jan 17, 2025 | tirebusiness.com | Kathy McCarron

LOS ANGELES — The wildfires that devastated communities around Los Angeles in mid-January may have a residual impact on tire dealerships going forward. The multiple wildfires impacted mostly residential properties, claiming at least 27 lives, along with more than 5,000 structures in the Pacific Palisades and more than 7,000 structures in the Altadena area. Thousands of residents have lost homes or had to evacuate temporarily. News footage showed numerous houses and vehicles gutted by fire.
Jay's Tire Pros leads donation effort for Calif. wildfire victims

Jan 16, 2025 | tirebusiness.com | Kathy McCarron

BOUNTIFUL, Utah — It started with a phone call for help and snowballed into a community- and industrywide philanthropy effort to help the thousands of people who have lost their homes and have been displaced by the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles recently. Two states over, Jay Jenkins, owner of Jay's Tire Pros in Bountiful, Utah, has been collecting donations of toiletries and other necessities, hoping to fill a semi-tractor trailer that will eventually be sent to victims in California.
Training, investment vital for servicing EVs

Dec 10, 2024 | tirebusiness.com | Kathy McCarron

LAS VEGAS — Electric vehicles (EVs) are coming — and automotive service shops can either be early adopters or stay on the sidelines. It is only a matter of time before an EV pulls into an aftermarket shop bay for maintenance work, so there are some safety precautions shops need to take with these high-voltage machines. EV service was the topic of several seminars at the recent AAPEX 2024 in Las Vegas during which speakers urged shop owners to train employees and invest in equipment.
EV market growth hindered by cost, infrastructure

Nov 21, 2024 | rubbernews.com | Kathy McCarron

LAS VEGAS—Sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) seemed to have plateaued this year as some OEMs have switched to investing in hybrids, making them a substantial part of their portfolio mix through 2030, according to the "2024 Joint EV Trends and Outlook Forecast," sponsored by the Auto Care Association (ACA) and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. The report, unveiled during the AAPEX show in Las Vegas in November, provides analysis and forecasts on the continuing shift toward electrification.