Denise Koeth - Senior Contributing Editor, Tire Review
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Long-Lasting Nitto Motivo Doesn’t Short on Performance

Nitto Tire USA said it is shattering expectations with its newly-released Motivo all-season UHP tire. First unveiled at the 2011 Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show, the tiremaker touts the Motivo as offering excellent wet and dry handling and braking capabilities. But what Nitto is most proud of is the tire’s unprecedented 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty –

Early Spring Kick-Starts Lawn and Garden Tire Segment

While the mild winter experienced throughout most of North America may have hurt winter tire sales, one tire segment saw a benefit. The lawn and garden tire market – which has seen slow, steady growth for the past several years – is starting 2012 off strong, particularly on the commercial landscaping side. “We’ve seen a

Revamped BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 Hits the Market on Target

Michelin North America’s all-new BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 tire seems to have entered the market at exactly the right time. Domestic sports cars – currently about even in market share with import performance cars – are projected to become the majority beginning in 2014. OE wheel size growth figures show an increasing trend toward larger,

High Demand, Changing Trends in Giant OTR Segment

Strong demand for the tires that are vital to the global mining industry can indeed be viewed as a positive indicator, but it also can mean shortages in certain sizes that equipment manufacturers, tiremakers and tire dealers all must tackle.

Kumho Execs Talk Marketing, Fill Rate and Dealer Incentives in 2012

Kumho Tire USA’s Rick Brennan and David Koh discuss the tiremaker’s push to increase brand awareness through sports marketing, Kumho’s 2011 successes, and some insight for 2012.

K&M Outlines Growth Goals, Mr. Tire Expansion at Annual Conference

Since K&M Tire acquired Uni­versal Cooperatives’ Triton Tire & Battery division in November 2010, the company has been on a steady growth track. Most recently, the Delphos, Ohio-based wholesaler purchased assets of Don’s Tire in Cross Plains, Wis. And at its annual tire dealer marketing group meeting, held mid-January in Las Vegas with 175 dealers

As Economy Rebounds, So Does Small OTR Tire Segment

The cyclical, unpredictable nat­ure of the OTR tire segment definitely provides a challenge. And because the market is so strongly tied to construction trends and the economy, the past decade has been somewhat of a wild ride.The extremely high demand seen pre-recession took a nosedive when the economy slumped and construction ground to a halt

Kumho Tire Looks to Carry 2011’s Successes the Into New Year

Rather than wait until the start of the new year, Kumho Tire USA held its 2012 dealer meeting at the close of 2011. The timing of the mid-December gathering, along with the event’s "Let’s Go" theme, each reflected the tiremaker’s eagerness to continue the momentum it gained in 2011 well into 2012 – and beyond.And

Utility Applications Hold Demand Steady in ATV/UTV Tire Segment

While sales of recreational all-terrain vehicles took a steep drop during the recent tough economic times, steady sales of utility terrain vehicles help­ed to stabilize the overall ATV/UTV market. The lag in equipment sales – and subsequent upswing as the economy began to rebound – was mirrored by ATV/UTV tire sales. The good news for

How Dealers Can Chase Down Profits in the Police/Pursuit Tire Market

To keep up with their demanding jobs, law enforcement officials need vehicles – and tires – that are up to the task. Enter the high-speed, high-perfor­ming market of police/pursuit tires. While compared to standard passenger tires, the segment isn’t particularly challenging from an SKU perspective, but dealers in the police/pursuit market must be adept at

In Fast-Growing Farm Tire Market, Recession is a Distant Past

Overall, North American farmers have had a good year. High commodity prices for grain and cotton, coupled with improved milk and pork prices and record high beef prices have resulted in farmers having profits to spend updating their equipment – and their tires. In 2011, agricultural commodities prices went up by 31%, according to Jeff

Two Years After GPX Acquisition, Alliance Still Focusing on Growth

When Alliance Tire Group acquired portions of the bankrupt GPX International Tire in December 2009, the tiremaker inherited a presence in the medium truck tire market, taking over distribution of China’s Aeolus Tyre Co. in the U.S. Prior to the purchase, Alliance’s core business had been in the off-highway segment. With the acquisition, Alliance was