More than 500 members of the tire industry gathered in Puerto Rico for this year’s TIA OTR Conference, not quite a record but an impressive total nonetheless. What was a record was the number of international attendees, who visited the 58th annual conference from 18 countries.
Perhaps it was the weather; the beachfront Gran Melia Golf Resort in Rio Grande, P.R., blessed the group with mild temperatures and bright skies. Perhaps it was the company, camaraderie and contacts that those intensely involved in the OTR tire segment enjoy.
Or perhaps it was the presence of Hall of Famer and golf icon Chi Chi Rodriguez, 77, who welcomed conference attendees with an engaging keynote speech, and spent time with those participating in the conference’s annual golf tournament.
Regardless, the attendees faced an intense agenda in a relaxing atmosphere.
TIA executive vice president Roy Littlefield, introduced by TIA president Randy Groh, kicked off the festivities with a brief welcome address. Littlefield noted that the OTR Conference “is a cornerstone for our association” and has proven to be “the best source for new product and industry information.”
Littlefield recounted the current health of TIA, with the association carrying 721 total members, including 377 that have signed up since the 2012 Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show last November. A lot of that increase, he said, was driven by the ambitious training tour that crisscrossed the U.S., as well as the continued popularity of TIA commercial tire and OTR tire training efforts.
The Feb. 21-23 conference continued with a review of the OTR tire market by Amit Agarwal, Bridgestone Americas’ manager of business analysis and forecasting. Unlike past years, this highly anticipated presentation did not include actual OTR shipment figures, a bit of a disappointment for the audience.
Instead, Agarwal provided a look at the post-recession condition of three key OTR tire sectors: construction, aggregates and mining. In addition, he provided index levels for both OTR equipment sales and tire sales.
Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review, moderated the popular Tire Manufacturers Panel Discussion, which featured Bruce Besancon, Michelin North America director of earthmover tire marketing; Tim Easter, director of OTR sales for Yokohama Tire Corp.; Aaron Murphy, vice president of CMA/Double Coin; and Wade Gatlin, vice president of mining for Bridgestone Americas.
The sometimes spirited discussion touched on a wide range of topics, including concerns over tire shortages, increased production, how each producer saw the progress or decline of certain OTR segments, the potential for airless OTR tires, the state of OTR tire retreading, manufacturer efforts at tire recycling and other “green” efforts, and the impact of the decline in natural rubber prices.
Other Industry Concerns
Day two kicked off with a presentation about TPMS use on earthmover tires by Trevor Potter, vice president of sales and marketing for Schrader International. Potter touched on the key advantages of deploying TPMS on giant OTR tires, as well as how TPMS technology has had to evolve to meet the challenges of the harsh environments OTR tires experience.
Michelin’s Besancon then returned to the podium with a presentation on the key trends suppliers and dealers need to be prepared for in the coming year. In closing, Besancon’s final point was that 2013 will be the year of choice, reminding attendees that OTR tire end-users still have options, and their decision will be driven primarily by business requirements and operational needs. 
Marvin Bozarth, TIA senior technical consultant, moderated the annual OTR Retreader Panel Discussion, which offered comments from Mike Berra Jr., vice president of Community Tire Retreading; Dennis Bull, president of BR Retreading; Brian Hayes, vice president of manufacturing for Purcell Tire Co.; Noah Hickman, president of H&H Industries; James John, vice president of operations for Shrader Retreading; Ed Petros, sales manager of RDH Florida; and Frank Schmidt, general manager of McCarthy OTR Retreading Inc.
Members of the panel pointed out that the economy remains the top issue, with uncertainty carrying through into 2013, stimulus monies that were earmarked for road construction projects drying up, and the continuing threat of regulatory action.
At the same time, the retreaders did note opportunities handling 51-inch and larger sized tires, the positive impact of low interest rates on equipment purchases, and growth opportunities outside of the U.S.
Closing day still provided a lot of valuable information for attendees. TIA’s Littlefield started the day with a recap of the November presidential election and its implications on business, as well as the status of Congressional inaction on a wide range of legislative matters.
Brett Eckstein, executive director of Tire Stewardship Manitoba, delivered an enlightening presentation on the state of scrap tire disposal in the province. Manitoba passed the Tire Stewardship Regulation in 2006, and since then a not-for-profit group manages scrap tire collection, processing and disposal – as well as recycling – on behalf of tire sellers.
Bridgestone Americas’ Jeff Faubion, technical compliance trainer, then offered an inside look at OTR service truck pre-trip inspections. Required by law, these pre-trip inspections remain integral to tire service worker safety. Faubion reminded that Mine Safety and Health Administration inspectors can shut down a service truck if it is found to be unsafe, and the operator (the dealer) can receive heavy fines.
Taking that theme further, Kevin Rohlwing, TIA senior vice president of training, discussed safety issues during the servicing of OTR tires. Rohlwing pointed out that OTR tire service techs face a difficult balancing act between getting the service/repair job done efficiently and getting the work done safely. The greatest threat to safety, he noted, came from lifting and jacking the vehicle and from assembly removal.
TIA announced that the 2014 OTR Conference will take place Feb. 19-22 at the Marco Island Marriott Resort & Golf Club in Marco Island, Fla. Registration forms are now available at tireindustry.org.
