Happy anniversary: tire industry milestones in 2023

A look at anniversaries celebrated in the tire industry:

5

It's been a handful of years since Goodyear and Bridgestone came together to create TireHub L.L.C., a 50/50 joint venture wholesaler based in Nashville, Tenn.

10

It's been a decade since Yokohama Tire Corp. broke ground on its $300-million commercial truck tire plant in West Point, Miss.

Family-run DLS Retreading Inc., out of Fort Mill, S.C., celebrated its anniversary in early July with a private event that paid tribute to Dave Snyder, father of founder Scott Snyder.

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Buffalo, N.Y.-based Exxpress Tire has been distributing products for three decades, noting the milestone during its annual dealer trip, held in March in the Bahamas.

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St. Louis Wholesale, known as the go-to place for oddball, hard-to-find products and inner tubes, has grown into a nationwide distributor of agricultural, industrial and specialty tires, reaching sales of $25 million in 2022.

Warren Tire Service Center Inc., headquartered in upstate New York, tied its anniversary to its annual Big Spring Sale, giving away 10 sets of four tires. Today, the dealership, with 16 locations spread across the state, is operated by Bob Kellogg and his daughter Megan Doster.

Turbo Wholesale Tires L.L.C. passed its anniversary this year in style: It acquired Oak Park, Mich.-based TWI in May and brought the owners of the family-owned wholesaler in as partial owners and executives.

Founded as Tire Factory, Point S Tire & Automotive Service celebrated its milestone during its annual dealer meeting, held this year in Puerto Rico. The group published a 44-page soft-cover pictorial distributed to members.

Tire Business eclipsed its fourth decade in operation in April, continuing to bring our readers the latest tire industry news and information.

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Dunn Tire, with 26 retail locations in western and central New York and northern Pennsylvania, was founded 50 years ago. Soon after reaching the milestone, Discount Tire/America's Tire acquired the dealership but plans to retain its signage.

Private- and import-brand distributor Foreign Tire Sales (FTS) marked five decades in business as founder Richard Kuskin is on the cusp of marking his 60th year in the tire business next year.

Vipal Rubber grew from a small operation in Brazil to a global supplier of products for retreading and repairing passenger, commercial and OTR tires. In 1992 Vipal Rubber established operations in the U.S. and today has a factory in Madison, Tenn., as well as two U.S. distribution centers, in Miami and Norfolk, Va. The company also operates five factories in Brazil and one in Argentina.

65

California-based Fairmount Tire & Rubber Inc.'s 65th anniversary celebration — held March 18 at the iconic Beverly Hilton — not only celebrated the dealership/distributor, but also its co-founder, Jerry Saunders.

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Chapel Hill Tire of Chapel Hill, N.C., celebrated its anniversary on Aug. 26. It has grown to 11 locations serving the Triangle area, Raleigh, Apex and Durham markets, including one in Cary, N.C., that it acquired late last year from Bull Tire & Service.

Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Hanks Tire, founded by Hank Goldberg and run by his son Steve, has grown to 26 employees, with sales of close to $10 million annually.

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Best-One Tire Group, which has grown to over 320 points of sale and $3 billion in annual revenue, celebrated this milestone in October by honoring many of the hundreds of Best-One employees and family members in attendance.

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Family-owned Gross Tire, a one-shop dealership in Williamsport, Pa., marked its anniversary with a community celebration that included a free lunch, games and giveaways.

Great Bear Auto, a family-owned dealership in Flushing, N.Y., celebrated its milestone with a community celebration of food, games and raffles.

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Goodyear celebrated the milestone in August with a host of activities, including relighting an iconic sign at it previous company headquarters, as well as hosting a blimp ride for select dignitaries.