ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Wholesale Tire Inc. has struck a deal with Turkey's Petlas Tire Corp. to become the exclusive U.S. distributor for Petlas' Starmaxx-brand ag and industrial-brand tires.
St. Louis Wholesale has begun an "aggressive" marketing campaign, according to Joseph Inchiostro, president and CEO of the family-owned and -operated company, "visiting our existing distributors and dealers to grow our direct container and warehouse programs, to offer new incentives, marketing support and literature to educate dealers and consumers to the level of quality the Starmaxx brand represents."
Th St. Louis-based nationwide distributor of specialty tires and inner tubes will be seeking new distributors in geographic regions in order to expand the company's reach, Mr. Inchiostro said.
"Starmaxx tires are the best kept secret in the ag and industrial tire business. and it is time for us to get the word out," he said.
While the firm will handle the entire Starmaxx line, it notes that the passenger, light truck, SUV and bus tire will be a direct container program only.
The company also anticipates adding to its sales team.
St. Louis Wholesale distributes Nexen-built innertubes and flaps, as well as tires for trailers, lawn and garden equipment, ATVs and UTVs.
Kirsehir, Turkey-based Petlas recently started distributing its Petlas-brand passenger, light-truck and SUV tire lines range through Oriente Tire USA, a company created by tire industry veterans Gus Lima and Marco Zigni.