TireHub expands Goodyear focuses Frasier Tire opens 3 to Florida, opens 3 on mobility 4 fth location in logistics center with collaboration South Carolina June 10, 2019 $79 per year, $4 per copy www.tirebusiness.com GM targets Michelin airless tire for fitment By Bruce Davis [email protected] MONTREAL General Motors Co. has agreed to accompany Michelin Group on the next leg of its journey to bring a viable extended mobility solution to market. Michelin, in partnership with GM, has taken development of its de- cade-plus old Tweel maintenance-free, non-pneumatic tire/wheel system to the next level with the “Uptis” proto- type that the companies said could be market ready as an original equipment tment by 2024. Michelin and GM presented the next-generation airless tire/wheel con- cept during the Movin’On Summit for Tire Business photo by Don Detore sustainable mobility, held in Montreal Michael J. Brown (far right) explains the grape-growing process to dealers during an activity at the Robert June 4-6. Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis Mondavi Winery in Napa, Calif. The dealers were attending a Nexen Tire dealer appreciation event. Uptis — Unique Punctureproof Steve Kiefer, GM senior vice presi- Tire System — is based on the fun- dent, global purchasing and supply damentals of Michelin’s Tweel tire/ chain, shares the advantages to Uptis wheel product, introduced at the 2005 at Movin’On in Montreal. Detroit Auto Show, according to Eric production process and architecture Remedy for success Vinesse, Michelin executive vice of the Uptis spoke design is complete- Nexen has ambitious goals as it continues to increase market share president, research and development. ly new, however, Mr. Vinesse said. Like the Tweel, the Uptis uses res- The spokes are molded onto an alu- By Don Detore growth in sales — a trend that has continued in the in-reinforced berglass spokes as minum cylinder and the rubber tread is [email protected] rst quarter of 2019 — and has set a goal to secure load-bearing elements. The materials, SEE MICHELIN, PAGE 26 NAPA, Calif. 3.25 percent market share in the U.S. by 2020. The As mid-year approaches and the weather across tire maker has its sights set on cracking the Top 10 North America heats up, the cold and u season in global sales by 2025. GOP, industry groups oppose seems to be a eeting memory. In Tire Business’ 2018 Global Tire Report, Nex- It’s much like the days when Nexen Tire America en Tire Corp. ranked 20th in total sales, at $1.65 Inc. was prone to any industry or customer malady. billion. Hangzhou, China-based Zhongce Rubber tariffs on goods from Mexico John Hagan, executive vice president of the Seoul, Group Co. Ltd. held the 10th position with sales of By Miles Moore South Korea-based tire maker, used an appropriate $3.62 billion, more than double Nexen’s. [email protected] analogy to describe the company’s immune system Mr. Hagan shared that vision with 26 dealers — WASHINGTON now in place to ght off industry in rmities. including two dozen direct tire dealers and two as- Senate Republicans are rebelling Today, the emphasis is on a balanced distribution sociate dealers — and their companions — during against President Trump’s announce- network. a ve-day dealer appreciation event, held in April in ment that he would levy tariffs on all “We had some large customers in the past, that if California’s Napa Valley. goods imported from Mexico, re ecting they got a cold, we got a u,” Mr. Hagan said during He hoped the dealers left wine country not only the general shock and dismay expressed an interview with Tire Business. “Now if they get a with a greater af nity for ne wines — it seems as by U.S. business interests at the news. u, we get a u. if every parcel of land in the valley not part of a According to various news reports, “My goal is, if they get a u, we get a cold. Or we winery or business grows some variety of grapes Senate GOP leaders threatened White get the snif es.” — but also with a clear understanding of where the House of cials with a veto-proof vote to demned the tariffs almost as soon as Nexen, he said, continues to post double-digit SEE NEXEN, PAGE 23 overturn the tariffs if the president goes President Trump announced them via ahead with them as planned June 10. Twitter May 30. Tire Business Special Report “There is not much support for it “Trade policy and border security in my conference for tariffs,” Senate are separate issues,” Sen. Grassley said Mid-YearTireReport Q&As with tire Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a statement on his website. “This is 12-22 R-Ky., reportedly said. Sen. McCo- a misuse of presidential tariff authority Nokian intensi es Bridgestone puts industry experts nnell also urged the White House and counter to congressional intent. 10 building brand 12 emphasis on to hold off on tariffs until President “Following through on this threat Trump had a chance to hear the con- would seriously jeopardize passage in U.S., Canada Firestone brand cerns of members of Congress. of USMCA (the U.S.-Mexico-Cana- Senate Finance Committee Chair- da Agreement), a central campaign ©Entire contents copyright 2019 by Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved. man Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, con- SEE TARIFFS , PAGE 26 OEM Wheel Solutions Shipping Nationwide PROTECTS YOUR FLEET. PROTECTS YOUR REPUTATION. THE MICHELIN ® AGILIS ® CROSSCLIMATE ® TIRE FOR YOUR FLEET If your job takes you into the city, drive with con dence with Michelin’s most durable heavy-duty commercial light truck tire ever—the MICHELIN® LT -METRIC C-METRIC Agilis® CrossClimate® tire. It resists curb scrubbing, lasts up to 19% longer under heavy loads than the competition1 and offers excellent wet and snow traction. See the difference at MichelinTruck.com. 1Based on a treadwear test using tires in size LT265/70R17 121/118R on 2018 Ford F250 pickup trucks, loaded up to 9800 lbs, vs. the following competitors. Actual on-road results may vary. Average projected mileage to wearout: MICHELIN® Agilis® CrossClimate®: 24,500 miles, Bridgestone® Duravis™ M700 HD: 20,600 miles, Firestone® Transforce™ AT2: 22,000 miles, and Firestone® Transforce™ HT: 19,800 miles. Copyright ©2019 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Michelin Man is a registered trademark owned by Michelin North America, Inc. Visit us on the web at www.tirebusiness.com TIRE BUSINESS, June 10, 2019 • 3 IndustryNews Mother’s Day surprise TireHub opens facility RNR gives cars, tires to deserving moms in Fla., expands reach ATLANTA “Fort Myers is a perfect t,” Mr. TAMPA, Fla. giveaway for other deserv- TireHub L.L.C. has expand- Gibbons said. “We have custom- RNR Tire Express & ing single mothers. ed into a new market for the rst ers there that have been previously Custom Wheels expand- In 2017, RNR Tire Ex- time in its brief history, opening a served through TLCs in neighboring ed its annual Mother’s press Rental Concepts TireHub Logistics Center (TLC) in cities, and this expansion allows us to Day car and tire give- promoted the contest to Fort Myers, Fla. meet their needs with more away to honor all types give away one new car in The 50,000-sq.-ft. facil- frequent deliveries and ex- of deserving mothers its market. ity is the wholesale distrib- ceptional personalized ser- nominated in a national The franchisee’s 2019 utor’s 69th logistics center vice. We are tremendously contest. Mother’s Day New Car in the U.S. excited to have an ofcial Customers across Giveaway expanded to Peter Gibbons, CEO of presence in the city.” the nation had the op- giving away two new TireHub, the joint venture TireHub said it already portunity to nominate a Buick Encores in draw- between Bridgestone Amer- has relocated centers in “superhero mom” and ings involving all moth- icas Inc. and Goodyear, said several existing cities to from thousands of en- ers, not just single moms. that expanding into a new meet product demand in tries, RNR Tire Express This year, the contest market within the rst year Gibbons each respective area. The RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels photo selected three mothers David Harrison (left), a partner in Rental Concepts, an RNR had two different spon- of business “is a milestone wholesale distributor said to receive new cars. The franchise group, poses with Tammy Niederhelman of Carl sors — Yokohama Tire that we are incredibly proud of.” it plans to assess opportunities con- dealership chain also gave Junction, Mo., who is receiving her new car. Corp. sponsored the The facility, which is being leased, tinually to determine “where it can 25 sets of tires to mothers giveaway for RNR Tire has seven full-time employees, and better serve customers based on who were runners-up in the contest. Express Rental Concepts North stores, while Nexen Tire according to a spokesperson, Tire- the needs of each market, which RNR recognized the three mothers at surprise reveal America Inc. sponsored the giveaway for RNR Tire Ex- Hub has plans to hire a few more. includes new geographies if that’s events at their local stores where nominating families press Rental Concepts South stores. Both cars were tted TireHub launched in July 2018. where it makes sense.” presented their moms with a free vehicle. with a new set of the sponsor’s brand tires. The Fort Myers location, like all lo- Sylvia Wilks, vice president of op- The Mother’s Day car giveaway initiative was started Meanwhile the Tampa-based RNR corporate ofce cations, will have access to the full erations at TireHub, said “everything by David Harrison, a partner in Rental Concepts, an RNR sponsored a third car giveaway.