STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — More than three decades after first introducing the Blizzak winter tire line, Bridgestone Americas Inc. has rolled out the latest iteration of the Blizzak that it claims will last longer than previous versions.

MATAMORAS, Pa. — "Our business starts all the way out by the curb." That's one of the lessons Les Strickler passed down to his son Jeff, who now owns Tri State Shell, a the full-service gas station, towing service and tire shop.

AKRON — The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will induct the Goodyear Blimp as an honorary member of the College Football Hall of Fame, making the blimp the first non-player or coach to be inducted.

CLINTON, Miss. — Continental Tire the Americas opened an employee training center in Clinton where it is building a $1.4 billion truck tire plant.

AKRON — The first thing you sense while you tour the Goodyear Innovation Center Manufacturing facility in Akron is the enormous amount of pride, workmanship and know-how that goes into each of the 4,000-plus racing tires that are produced during peak weeks of the NASCAR season.

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Yokohama Tire Corp. has revved up its motorsports sponsorships and participation.

RAVENNA, Ohio — Testing services company Smithers Rapra has enhanced the tire- and wheel-testing capabilities at its Ravenna facility markedly in recent months with the addition of state-of-the-art testing equipment for both products.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Hille Korhonen, president and CEO of Nokian Tyres P.L.C., plans to compete in the the Ironman triathlon in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Sept. 30.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc.'s Falken brand is on a mission: Build relations with its network of dealers across North America, while at the same time educating them about the brand's burgeoning portfolio.