Tire Business

1 week ago | tirebusiness.com | Don Detore

BURLEY, Idaho — A business opportunity cropped up seven years ago, and the farmer in Jesse Wickel just couldn't resist. There's not much to it, he thought, an easy side business. "It's a tire store, so I can do this on my days off or whatever," he said, figuring he could continue to help his dad Ardel operate their 6,000-acre farm while running the tire store during downtime. The family has grown malt barley (for beer) as well as wheat and alfalfa for local dairies for the past 40 years. .

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.

1 week 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.

1 week 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.

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).