In some ways, it's been a remarkable year — as in exceptional. Tires continue to fly off the shelves. Travel is back, both on the road and in the air. And the supply chain seems to be in the process of righting itself.
And in other ways, it's been remarkable too — as in extraordinary. Any year when a war between neighboring countries breaks out, wreaking havoc with the worldwide supply of oil, a key ingredient in tires, things can get dicey real quick.
Both seem to be the case with 2022. While the world (and the tire industry) seems to be getting back to pre-COVID life, things seem to be in a state of flux in many ways, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and rampant inflation across the globe.
So as we look back on 2022, let's do so in a familiar way: Welcome to the third edition of what we call The Book.
This is our gift to you, an anthology of the best that Tire Business has presented over the last 12 months — from our rankings of North America's largest independent retailers and largest retreaders, to our list of North American marketing groups, to our comprehensive list of 2022's mergers and acquisitions and the exclusive Global Top 75.
We also are reprinting the stories on our 2022 Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Medal winner, Kim McMahon, president of McMahon's Best-One Tire & Auto in Fort Wayne, Ind.
McMahon is the first female tire dealer to be named the outright recipient of the award, given to a dealer who goes above and beyond for his or her community.
This issue is filled with other pertinent, market-relevant data to help you, our readers, gain a clearer insight and deeper perspective of the industry.
You also will find our exclusive and popular Global Tire Report which includes a ranking of the world's Top 75 tire makers in terms of 2021 sales — spoiler alert, Michelin was No. 1 for the third straight year.
It also includes our comprehensive list of tire factories around the globe.
We already hinted at our top story of the year as rated by our staff: The war in Ukraine. We also share with you what was the most popular stories on our website.
This edition is 100 pages. Make sure you turn to the end of the book — page 96 to be exact — and see our cartoons of the year.
We have included a new cartoon, too, which shows what you can expect in 2023: cartoons published in color.
Hats off to Managing Editor David Manley for his hard work in organizing and designing many of the pages inside. And thanks are in order for our entire staff, including Special Projects Editor Bruce Davis; Senior Reporter Kathy McCarron; Digital Editor Jessica Holbrook; and Designer Michael McCrady.
Without their dedication, we wouldn't be able to produce this signature edition of Tire Business.
One more thing to point out: We also take a look at our Best Places to Work survey from 2021 and share our stories on the businesses honored.
Miami-based Tire Group International, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, was the overall winner of the competition. Take another bow, TGI.
And here's some news heading into 2023: Our survey is back for a fourth year.
Be sure to nominate your company for the Best Places to Work survey, which recognizes the best employers the tire and automotive service industries have to offer.
Tire Business, in conjunction with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm specializing in identifying and recognizing great places to work, is seeking the best employers in our industry.
The rules for the survey are simple. In order to participate, a business must:
• Be a retail, commercial, OTR, retread or wholesale tire dealership in the U.S. (publicly or privately held);
• Have a minimum of 15 full- or part-time permanent employees working in the U.S.; and
• Be in business a minimum of one year.
Among companies eligible are online tire businesses (such as Simple Tire, Tire Rack, etc.); franchised tire businesses (such as individual Tire Pros, Big O Tires, etc. franchisees); mass merchandisers with tire stores (such as Walmart Tire & Lube Express, etc.; Individual stores not eligible); and wholesale clubs that sell tires (such as BJ's or Costco.)
Those companies not eligible include tire importers; tire manufacturer-owned retail or commercial tire stores; private-brand tire companies; and aftermarket businesses that do not sell tires.
The survey can be accessed at: bestplacestoworktb.com. The deadline to register is March 17.
Simple Tire L.L.C., the online tire retailer that has experienced robust growth, was Tire Business' Best Places to Work winner in 2020.
St. Louis Wholesale Tire, a family-run business that specializes in specialty tires and inner tubes, was the winner of the inaugural Best Places to Work survey competition in 2019.
Tire Business will publish the list of 2023 finalists in July.
The survey is free to enter. Those dealerships that enter and do not place will remain anonymous.
Be sure to enter. We know you are proud of your work, just as we are here at Tire Business, keeping you on top of the latest news and data in the tire industry.
We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we do in presenting this to you.
We look forward to serving you once again in 2023.
Happy Holidays.
