Whether you are selling toothpaste or tyres, you must first ensure that customers know your product exists and then convince them that your product is the best value!
The US tyre retailing, like other industries, will benefit from rising business activity as the economy recovers from the downturn resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Relatively high levels of consumer spending are anticipated to return this year, and demand for replacement tyres is projected to grow over the next five years in line with the overall economy. At present, the US tyre retailing industry comprises about 39,000 businesses with over USD 40 billion in annual sales. The global tyre sales are estimated to be approximately USD 270 billion in 2022.
The tyre retailing industry is highly competitive, as product choices are limited, and services needed by customers are often identical. Tyre dealers end up competing based on brand offering, service reputation, price, location and other incentives.
Most tyre retailing is done through independent shops, both privately-owned small businesses and large corporations who own a chain of stores. Independent dealers can sell every line of tyres available, fulfilling customers' desire for choice. A few OEM-owned tyre shops, such as Bridgestone/Firestone and Goodyear stores, and auto dealers also try to sell replacement tyres. While privately-owned small outlets offer more personalised service, large chains benefit from marketing support, purchasing power, consumer financing options, and other benefits supplied by the corporate umbrella.
The trend seems to be that the number of purely independent small dealerships will decline. Consider the rising expenses just to stay up to date, including the tools, talent, training and technology required to continue to service increasingly sophisticated vehicles. The increasing pressure on small retailers is viewed as a natural evolution of any industry, forcing owners and managers to make necessary changes – and tough decisions – to survive and thrive. As a result, regional and national mega dealerships are continuing to expand their footprints through acquisition or starting new sites.
Marketing
The sustainability of every retailer depends on marketing. First, your customer needs to know that you exist, and for that, you need to advertise. There are many ways of advertising – direct mail, ads in print/audio/video and social media. Advertising costs money and the effectiveness of an ad campaign should be measured through the bottom-line result it generates. One 30-second TV ad during the American Super Bowl game in February 2022 cost each advertiser a cool USD 6.5 million! But considering that the ad reached 112.3 million TV viewers, it could be considered a good ad value. On the other hand, if a retailer spends even a dollar for an ad but does not reach a single potential buyer, it has cost too much!
While a well-designed website is a must, how do you ensure that your website pops up prominently when a potential customer is searching for the type of product or service you offer? Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the practice website owners need to use to rank higher in the search engine's ranking process and draw more traffic to their website. After you have the attention of potential customers, educate them about the value you offer and convince them that they would lose if they do not use your product or service.
One success story
Bruce T Halle opened his first Discount Tire store in 1960, renting an old building in Ann Arbor, Michigan and began as the sole employee with a six-tyre inventory. His founding principles – treat people with respect and fairness, care for those in need, always do what is right, work hard, be responsible and have fun – have helped the chain grow to be the largest independent tyre and wheel retailer in the US, operating more than 1,100 stores in 35 American states. The chain claims they will not be undersold and strives to deliver the lowest price on all tyres and wheels they carry. When a customer finds a lower price, they beat the competition's lower installed price and ensure that the customer gets the best deal. The chain works hard to provide unexpected experiences that delight their customers and thus keeps them coming back. All tyres sold come with FREE prorated coverage, meaning that the customer gets credit towards a new tyre when a tyre has become non-repairable due to a road hazard. Customers also get FREE lifetime rotation, balancing and repair. Additionally, they offer a customer-friendly tyre replacement programme called the Certificate for Repair, Refund or Replacement. With this certificate, when a tyre fails within three years of purchase due to a defect or a non-repairable road hazard damage and still has legal tread (3/32") remaining across the tyre, the customer gets a refund of the full purchase price, with the option to purchase the same new or comparable tyre at the refund price. With all these delighters, no wonder this tyre retailer has seen solid growth.
Every retailer, no matter what it sells, must strive to delight the customer with 'extras'!
The future
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused supply chain issues and forced all industries to overhaul their information-technology systems for better customer service and inventory management. While this is an added cost of doing business, it could be offset through better productivity. Additionally, tyre OEMs and retailers need to be ready to tackle the upcoming market disruption – electric vehicles – which needs specialised tyres to begin with; moreover, these tyres are expected to wear faster due to higher battery weight and quicker acceleration of these vehicles.
Pirelli Signs Partnership With Univrses To Integrate AI Vision Into Cyber Tyre System
- By TT News
- May 01, 2026
Pirelli has entered into a strategic agreement with Swedish technology firm Univrses to integrate artificial intelligence-based computer vision systems into its Cyber Tyre platform. As part of the deal, Pirelli has acquired a 30 percent stake in Univrses, with an option to increase that share to a majority holding. The collaboration will embed Univrses’ 3DAI technologies into Pirelli’s existing Cyber Tyre solutions, creating a unified system aimed at producing safer and higher performing vehicles.
The combined technology has potential applications in advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving. It also generates timely, actionable data for road management, helping authorities make better decisions and deploy resources more efficiently. This could lead to fewer road accidents and saved lives. The system uses onboard cameras and tyres to collect feedback on road conditions. Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre, the first integrated hardware and software system of its kind, gathers data from tyre sensors, processes it with proprietary algorithms and communicates in real time with vehicle electronics and the cloud.
Univrses originally developed its technology to help cars understand their surroundings, but it has since been adapted to turn vehicles into AI-powered road monitoring agents. The Swedish company’s 3DAI Engine provides autonomous vehicles with perception capabilities including 3D positioning, mapping and spatial deep learning. Its 3DAI system digitises roadside infrastructure using data from vehicle-mounted sensors like cameras.
A pilot project is already active in Italy. In 2025, Pirelli and the Puglia Region launched a road network monitoring system to create an updated map of infrastructure conditions. The system analyses data from tyres via the Cyber Tyre platform alongside visual data from cameras interpreted by Univrses’ technology.
Andrea Casaluci, CEO, Pirelli, said, “The agreement with Univrses further enhances our Cyber Tyre™ platform, thanks to advanced AI‑based artificial vision technologies. The collaboration between Pirelli and Univrses will make a significant contribution to the ongoing transformation of cars into true software‑defined vehicles.”
Jonathan Selbie, CEO, Univrses, said, “Continuous monitoring and data are becoming the new foundation for infrastructure asset management, and Univrses technology is able to provide powerful analytical capabilities based on reliable and frequently updated data. In this context, we are pleased to welcome Pirelli as an investor and to take our partnership to the next level: we will join forces to deliver increasingly advanced services and products.”
ZC Rubber To Spotlight WESTLAKE And GOODRIDE Tyres At THE TIRE COLOGNE 2026
- By TT News
- April 30, 2026
ZC Rubber is preparing a major European-focused showcase at THE TIRE COLOGNE, scheduled to run from 9 to 11 June 2026. The tyre manufacturer will occupy Booth C050g in Hall 8.1, highlighting its WESTLAKE and GOODRIDE brands with a clear emphasis on products tailored specifically for regional market demands.
The display will blend imminent and future innovations. Products destined for a European launch in the latter half of 2026 will appear alongside the company’s current truck and bus radial lineup. Selected previews of developments planned for 2027 will also be on view. A featured attraction is the Westlake Sport RS2, a drift-proven ultra-high-performance tyre praised for its grip, precision and 180 treadwear rating. A renewed rubber compound, developed through work with the Red Bull Driftbrothers, now delivers steadier traction under severe driving conditions. Appearing at the stand, Red Bull Driftbrothers driver and engineer Elias Hountondji will illustrate how motorsport data directly refines ZC Rubber’s product engineering.
Additional new passenger car radial models for Europe in the second half of 2026 include the Westlake ZuperFlex Z-137, Goodride RideMax G-147, the all-season Westlake Zuper4S Z-411 and the off-road focused Westlake Terra Legend SL399 and Goodride Mud Legend SL388. On the truck and bus side, already available tyres such as the Westlake WSL2, Westlake WDL2+ and Goodride S2, D3 and D4 will be exhibited, covering steer and drive axle needs for long-haul and heavy-duty transport.
A sneak peek at 2027 offerings will feature the Westlake Z-301 commercial van tyre, Goodride All Season G-721, Goodride SnowComfort G-518 and new TBR models including the Westlake WTL2, Westlake WTR OEM and Goodride M2. ZC Rubber’s team will remain on-site throughout the event, welcoming visitors and partners to the booth for meetings and professional discussions.
Leo Liao, General Manager, ZC Rubber Europe, said, “This year’s showcase reflects a much broader and more complete portfolio for Europe. From UHP and all-season tyres to all-terrain, mud-terrain and TBR solutions, we are bringing new developments across almost every major segment. This reflects how seriously we take the European market: we are listening to local needs, investing in the right products and building a portfolio that better matches the needs of our European partners.”
Magna Tyres Unveils MA801 TR Solid Tyre For Recycling And Heavy Industrial Applications
- By TT News
- April 30, 2026
Magna Tyres has launched the MA801 TR, a new solid tyre engineered for extreme operating conditions in recycling facilities and heavy industrial settings. Designed to maximise equipment uptime while supporting high load capacities, the tyre is built to deliver dependable performance in harsh environments. The official debut of the MA801 TR will take place at IFAT 2026 in Munich, scheduled from 4 to 7 May 2026.
The new model is intended for compact wheel loaders and telescopic handlers, featuring a flat-free solid construction. Its extra-deep non‑directional tread is reinforced by a triangular structural design, which enhances traction and stability on surfaces littered with sharp debris. Available in sizes 13.00‑24 and 14.00‑24, the tyre prioritises puncture resistance and reduced maintenance needs.
Thanks to its robust architecture and deep tread profile, the MA801 TR offers an extended service life and consistent performance across demanding work cycles. By eliminating the risk of flats, Magna Tyres positions the tyre as a reliable solution for recycling and industrial operations where continuous heavy loads are standard.
Yokohama Rubber Secures SBTi Validation For 2035 GHG Reduction Targets
- By TT News
- April 30, 2026
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has secured validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a prominent corporate climate-action organisation, for its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets set for 2035. This endorsement confirms that the company’s goals are scientifically aligned with the standards established under the Paris Agreement. The validated targets are measured relative to the company’s 2024 emission levels.
Under the approved framework, Yokohama Rubber aims for a 63.0 percent reduction in combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which cover direct emissions from its business activities as well as indirect emissions from purchased energy. Additionally, the company commits to a 37.5 percent cut in Scope 3 emissions, specifically targeting indirect supply chain emissions from purchased products and services, along with fuel and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2. To achieve these reductions, Yokohama Rubber has been expanding solar power generation and renewable energy electricity at its global plants, while also disclosing indirect emissions from product distribution, use and disposal since 2013.
The company obtained SBTi validation to accelerate supply-chain-wide emission cuts in response to intensifying climate challenges. Operating under its sustainability management slogan, ‘Caring for the Future’, Yokohama Rubber continues to create shared value by tackling social issues directly through its business operations.
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