SAINT PETERS, Mo. (April 7, 2009) — Sure Tire Co. Inc. celebrated the 35th year of its Summit tire brand during the company's annual shareholders meeting March 1 in St. Louis.
The company held a gala event to recognize the families of Ken Harris Sr. and Leonard Nussbaum, two founders of the Summit brand. They and three other independent tire distributors came up with the brand name 35 years ago after seeing a Summit County (Ohio) sign on the way to a meeting with an Akron tire manufacturer, according to Sure Tire.
“The thing that really made it exciting for us was over the last 35 years we've maintained the same vision that the five gentlemen that founded Summit Tire had,” Sure Tire President Pat McLaughlin said. “We've continued that tradition of maintaining our territory integrity.”
Mr. McLaughlin said the Summit brand is “very well positioned” in the market and “our footprint is very good for the critical nature of our business today.”
In the last two and a half years the company has introduced four Summit model lines: Siempre VI, Trail Climber AW, Cascade II and Trail Climber CT. The company also has added sizes to its Ultramax HP and Mud Dawg tire lines.
Mr. McLaughlin said 2009 is an exciting year for “any company to reach a milestone” such as the one the Summit Tire brand has.
“The most exciting part of this is that we've been able to do this because of the commitment and growth of our shareholders,” he said. “It's a commitment that our members have not only to Sure Tire, but also to the independent tire dealer industry.
“We know that 2009 is going to be a year of many challenges, but we feel like we have a solid game plan with the relationships we've developed over the years,” he said.
Sure Tire is an independent marketer of the Summit brand as well as Heritage and Kreed private brand tires. The company has 23 U.S. member distributors for its Summit tire brand.