HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — American Tire Distributors (ATD)'s Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. subsidiary will begin its 70th anniversary celebration with a host of social media contests and giveaways.
Hercules will commemorate the anniversary across its Hercules Tires social media accounts including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans may interact and win branded merchandise, apparel and accessories by submitting a photo of their Hercules Tires with the hashtag #Hercules70.
The event runs through Sept. 30. Three winners, one from each channel, will be announced on social media Oct. 3.
Hercules was founded in 1952 as a cooperative by several independent tire dealers, established on the principle of providing quality products at an affordable price.
The company, which ATD purchased in 2014, now offers a comprehensive selection of passenger, UHP, UTV, light truck, medium truck, agriculture and specialty tires under its Hercules, Ironman and Dynatrac brands.
"Any company that has lasted 70 years has focused on quality and innovation since Day 1," Stuart Schuette, ATD's president and CEO, said.
"We have seen Hercules continue to grow by expanding the breadth of its products, the depth of its SKUs and its coverage across the country. The company is constantly developing innovative products while bringing value to its dealers and consumers."
Hercules said it has grown by investing inn in product development, dealer support and marketing.
"There is a lot of opportunity for Hercules to continue its growth path," Hercules President Joshua Simpson said. "As we continue to focus on marketing to grow brand awareness in tandem with enhancing our product portfolio, we're truly set up to be successful in the industry for the long haul."
Hercules launched several new products this year, including within new market segments. The first market launch of the year was the TIS UT1 by Hercules Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) tire in mid-March, a collaboration with TIS Offroad. The company also introduced its first tire for the agricultural market, the Ag-Trac RT45 R-1W, designed for four-wheel- and mechanical front-wheel-drive (MFWD) tractors.
Herclues completed its Strong Guard lineup of commercial tires with the recent launch of the Strong Guard H-LS for long haul steer applications. The Ironman Tires brand also launched two products, a light truck tire- the Ironman All Country HT and the Ironman I-Series Gen 2 in the TBR segment.
The Hercules Power and Hercules Flex programs includes a network of around 4,000 retail locations across the U.S. and Canada. Hercules said its investments in marketing continue to grow brand awareness via grassroots events, sponsorships and television partnerships along with digital and social media.
"The Hercules team brings excellence to the forefront every day," Schuette said. "As the industry continues to change, they will be there with new products to serve the needs of Hercules dealers and the marketplace."
