Happy anniversary: Tire industry milestones in 2024

Nokian Tyres P.L.C broke ground on its first plant in North America in 2019, and five years later, the plant is flourishing. The workforce has grown from an initial group of 60 to 500 at the Southeast Tennessee plant. The company said that since that time, it has manufactured millions of tires, been lauded for its sustainable operations, and expanded its workforce eight times.

Prinx Chengshan Tire North America Inc. cruised to its fifth anniversary as the U.S. subsidiary of China's Prinx Chengshan Co. Ltd. The company took a select group of customers on a cruise to the Bahamas in July to celebrate the milestone.

Lexington, Ky.-based S&S Tire held an open house to celebrate its golden anniversary, and everyone who attended will have a tall tale to tell. During the event, the company set a Guinness world record by stacking a tower of tires that reached 7.98 meters, composed of 28 tires. The dealership operates 30 locations, including 15 commercial, 13 wholesale and two retread shops that service 18 states

Bridgestone Americas Inc. celebrated 50 years of operation at its passenger and light truck tire plant in Wilson, N.C., one of only two such factories it operates in the U.S. The Wilson tire plant began manufacturing tires in 1974 under Bridgestone predecessor company Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and is one of the largest industrial employers in Wilson County with 1,900 employees.

Charleston, S.C.-based Frasier Tire, an independent dealer that sells Goodyear products, reached its golden anniversary this year. The company marked the occasion by opening a retail tire location in Charleston, its fourth store in the state.

Aftermarket supplier KYB Corp., a maker of shocks, struts and ride-control products, reached its 50th anniversary. The company has a 500,000-sq.-ft. North American manufacturing plant in Franklin, Ind., outside Indianapolis, where it has been building original equipment and aftermarket shocks and struts since 1986. KYB operates distribution centers in California, Texas, the Midwest and in the New England area, and in 2011, it opened a 275,000-sq.-ft. D/C in Greenwood, Ind., near the Franklin manufacturing plant.

Family-owned Bookout's Tire & Lube, based in Etowah, Tenn., celebrated its 50th anniversary in May with employees and customers.

Rubber and urethanes goods maker Superior Tire & Rubber Corp., which manufactures tires, wheels, tracks and a variety of other components, celebrated its 60th anniversary. The Warren, Pa.-based company has more than 375 employees, and it produces nearly 1.3 million parts annually at the company's three plants.

Anyone who has driven past Allen Park, Mich., should be familiar with the Giant Uniroyal Tire, an iconic landmark on Interstate 94 near Detroit, which turned 60 on April 22. The 80-ft.-tall tire — which "signals home to area residents and welcomes visitors to the Motor City," Uniroyal said — was first built as a Ferris wheel for the 1964-65 World's Fair in Queens, N.Y., and then moved to Detroit in 1965.

Yoder's Auto Service, a third-generation family business, reached eight decades in business. The dealership has a single location in Louisville, Ohio.

The tire product that so many consumers rely on in the northern half of the U.S. and Canada — the winter tire — celebrated its 90th anniversary this year. Nokian Tyres P.L.C. said it invented the product in 1934 to tackle harsh winters in Finland, and today most every tire manufacturer produces the product.

"Team. Family. Trust. Serve." That is the motto of Whiteville, N.C.-based Black's Tire Service, which this year celebrated its 95th anniversary with a celebration at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort in January. The family-owned entity is part retail/commercial dealership and part wholesaler. It is operated by patriarch Rick Benton and his sons Rick, Ryan and Jeremy. BTS held a gala that featured more than 600 attendees, including team members and their families, customers and vendor partners.

Johnson Tire Service, headquartered in Springfield, Utah, reached the century mark in business. The family-owned dealership held a celebration on June 7 to commemorate the event. Today, the dealership is operated by Riley Johnson and Jeff Jackson, whose great-grandfather founded the shop out of his garage.