It's too late to vote in the U.S. presidential election. But Tire Business would like your picks for the top five news stories of 2000.
The following 29 stories — not listed in any particular order of preference — appeared in the pages of TB during the past year. We'd like you to choose what you think are the five most-important events that affected the tire industry. Circle your selections on the form below, clip it out or copy it, then fax it back to us by Dec. 15 at (330) 836-2831.
We'll compile yours and TB staffers' picks, and publish the results in the Jan. 1, 2001, issue of Tire Business. Just remember, vote early, but only once — not often.
1. Pirelli Tire North America announces plans to close its last U.S. tire factory.
2. Caterpillar Inc. begins selling its own brand of aftermarket replacement tires for skid-steer loaders.
3. Bankrupt and in receivership, Canada's United Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. goes out of business.
4. Marangoni S.p.A. announces plans to sell passenger and industrial tires in North America in 2000.
5. Off-road tire marketer Dick Cepek declares bankruptcy and closes, eventually to be purchased by Max-Trac Tire Co. Inc.
6. TANA re-establishes its government relations efforts.
7. Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. launches a recall of 6.5 million P-metric light truck tires.
8. Goodyear and Treadco Inc. combine their commercial tire distribution and retreading assets to form the world's largest truck tire service network.
9. TANA holds its first popular election of officers.
10. The International Tire & Rubber Association switches its long-time annual trade show to a biennial event.
11. Goodyear and Group Michelin announce they will collaborate on an industry-standard run-flat tire technology.
12. Michelin's Tire Centers L.L.C. unit launches its "T3 Certified Tire Centers" program for retail associate dealers.
13. Congress passes and President Clinton signs the Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act, in the aftermath of the Firestone tire recall.
14. Titan Tire's Maurice "Morry" Taylor files a $240 million lawsuit against the United Steelworkers of America.
15. Pirelli S.p.A. unveils its new tire-making process, called MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System).
16. Zurcher Tire Group launches "Best One Tire & Service," a marketing program for its partner dealerships.
17. Heafner Tire Group buys Nebraska's T.O. Haas Tire Co.
18. TBC Corp. acquires Florida-based Tire Kingdom Inc.
19. In the wake of the Firestone tire recall, Bridgestone/Firestone names John Lampe to replace Masatoshi Ono as its chairman.
20. Ross Kogel officially replaces David Poisson as TANA executive vice president.
21. Larry Morgan buys Minnesota-based Team Tires Plus Ltd. from Tom Gegax, adopts the Tires Plus name for his Florida-based Morgan Tire & Auto Inc., names Mr. Gegax chairman, and looks to recruit 50 Tires Plus franchisees a year.
22. Goodyear shakes up its top management, replacing William Sharp with John Polhemus as president of its North American Tire unit.
23. Michigan-based Belle Tire Distributors Inc. buys 13 closed National Tire & Battery (NTB) outlets from Sears, Roebuck and Co.
24. Pep Boys closes 38 under-performing stores.
25. Continental General Tire Inc. shuffles its Passenger/Light truck management. Among the changes: Vice President Chris Dickson leaves the company.
26. The Rubber Manufacturers Association launches a consumer information program on tire safety.
27. Goodyear faces a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe over deaths allegedly linked to some of the company's 16-inch load range E light truck tires.
28. Continental General Tire and Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. both come under scrutiny for alleged tread separation tire problems.
29. Goodyear names former Eastman Kodak Co. executive Robert J. Keegan the tire maker's new president and COO.
30. Other news events not mentioned above: