For the last several years, the one word that constantly comes up in conversations about the tire business is supply–No. 1 getting the tires, and No. 2, getting the ones you need. Inflation has caused logistics and transportation costs to rise, and we’re still seeing port congestion and other ripple effects from COVID shutdowns and bottlenecks. Yet, there are a few bright spots that linger in the distance, despite the disruption we’ve seen over the past few years.

To dive into the topic of supply chain disruption, we spoke with Art Mayer, a contract writer and consultant that’s president of Zephyr Research Partners, which covers a wide range of topics in the tire industry. Art has years of experience in the industry working in a variety of roles for Dealer Tire and serving as a researcher for Smithers. He has previously been a speaker at Smithers’ Traction conferences, covering the emerging areas of sensors and intelligent tires. Recently, he wrote a Smithers report titled, “The Impact of Supply Chain Disruption on the Tire Industry.

In this interview, Art delves into:

- The myriad of factors affecting the tire supply chain today. (1:00)
- A silver lining that may come in the second part despite this being the “worst supply chain disruption in 50 years.” (5:46)
- How manufacturers are changing supply strategies to adapt to the climate (8:09)
- How consolidation in the tire distribution and manufacturing channel impacts supply chain (9:26)
- The context of tire supply in the greater supply chain challenges for the automotive industry, including the semiconductor shortage (11:38)
- How EV sales and other future mobility trends are affecting supply and could speed up the adoption of tire management solutions and fleet ownership (15:00)
- How efforts to sustainably source raw materials and manufacture tires have increased and how supply chain challenges played a role (17:14)
- How the Russian war in Ukraine impacts the tire supply chain (19:10)

Listen to the audio podcast here or subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaE

Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

Even when Jarid Lundeen worked in the restaurant and banking industries, one thing about the customer experience always stood out to him: Consistency. Early on, he learned consistency creates success, which is what he looks to instill in his four Tires Plus locations in Minott, North Dakota. But how do you do that?

Jarid tells Johnny g in this latest episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone. Jarid not only touts consistency in the tire business but also diversity and scaling up as a means to success as a businessman. As the CEO and president of JETT Management, Jarid has four Tire Plus locations plus four Valvoline Instant Oil Change stores and a barbecue restaurant under his belt and is an example in each of his businesses of how a consistent customer experience can lead to repeat business.

Jarid got the hang of the automotive industry as a young boy hanging out with his dad at his father’s body shop. Over the years, he strayed away from the industry, yet was called back after his father asked him to partner with him on a Tires Plus location. Since then, he bought his father out and has grown his footprint with much more on the way.

Watch the episode above or on YouTube. You can also subscribe to Johnny g & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

EPISODE OVERVIEW
- How Johnny g and Jarid first met (1:40)
- What Jarid learned working in the banking and restaurant industries and how he applies that to his businesses today (3:00)
- Why Jarid has diversified his portfolio to not only include tire stores and why he feels that will benefit him down the line (4:13)
- Jarid describes his early years growing up in his father’s body shop and the skills he learned, such as creating conversation, from the experience. (5:47)
- Why Jarid was attracted to invest in Valvoline Instant Oil Change stores and his view on how the oil change should work in relation to his tire shop (7:08)
- Jarid’s goals for his businesses, including his tire business, oil change business and Bones BBQ restaurant and why the need for replication is paramount across processes at all three (8:54)
- Mentors Jarid has had in the tire industry (12:40)
- Why Jarid thinks it’s important to scale up in business and grow (14:49)

You can also watch Johnny g & Freinds on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgfm_UrqXz4&list=PLVkqUUE022sfk413J6lVAaPFH4Wc2ORLy

More on Firestone: www.firestonetires.com.

With 77 locations across the New England states, Sullivan Tire &Auto Centers is definitely "one of the big guys" in the northeast. Like its competitors, it is eyeing growth and looking at where the business can expand its footprint. However, as it expands, it knows the business can get more corporate, so how do you sustain the personal, family-oriented approach to the business as you grow?

In this episode of What's Treading with Tire Review, we spoke with Joe Zaccheo, Sullivan Tire's recently appointed president and CEO, who explained how the company is keeping that family feel as it expands. Zaccheo, a 26-year Sullivan Tire veteran, is a champion of the company's "controlled growth," especially as it looks for opportunities to expand in Connecticut and central and western Massachusetts. Yet, as a tenured member of the Sullivan Tire team, he's been involved in employee growth initiatives --such as its leadership development programs--that have allowed the business to retain tenured employees.

- His start in the industry. (0:56)
- How acquisitions have become a central part of Sullivan Tire's growth strategy. (2:04)
- The importance of culture and treating employees like family as well as challenges that come with acquisitions. (6:29)
- Where he sees Sullivan Tire's "controlled growth" taking place. (11:05)
- How Sullivan Tire has invested in its employees, from evaluating compensation to incentives, which have led to 400 of its 1,200 employees being with the company for 10 or more years. (15:28)
- The start and evolution of Sullivan Tire's Leadership Development Program and how it promotes cross-functional collaboration among teams across the company's locations (18:06)
- How the company is confronting challenges, such as the current labor shortage and inflation, and why Zaccheo thinks it's important for the company to "build the bench" of rising talent to take the company into the next generation (23:36)

Subscribe to What's Treading on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaE

Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

You can also watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rYE1NOtnlw&list=PLVkqUUE022sdAVQ6DuHU8cxd3FS2ni9vA

Now more than ever, going green is permeating the industry. Automakers are required to meet certain sustainability requirements, which means everything that goes into creating a vehicle–ahem, the tires–are held to higher sustainability targets, too. Just ask Bridgestone, whose goal is to have 100% carbon neutrality and 100% renewable resources in its tires by 2050. So, how are they going to achieve that?

Slowly but surely, the foundation for a more sustainable future is being laid out as you read this. Here’s just one example: For more than a decade, Bridgestone has been researching the guayule plant to use as a domestic source of natural rubber, and now the first Firestone Firehawk race tire made with guayule natural rubber (grown and extracted at the company’s guayule R&D facilities in Arizona) will debut at this year’s Indy 500 on May 29.

Just last month, the company partnered with LanzaTech, a carbon capture and transformation company, to co-develop the first dedicated end-of-life tire recycling process. To learn more about Bridgestone’s guayule research and end-of-life tire recycling initiatives, we spoke with Bill Niaura, director of sustainable materials and circular economy for Bridgestone Americas Technology Center. In this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX, Bill dives into why Bridgestone is investing in these various sustainability initiatives and how creating a circular economy is in the tiremaker's future.

EPISODE OVERVIEW
- An update on Bridgestone’s research into guayule natural rubber (1:00)
- Why tiremakers are investing in alternate sources of natural rubber (2:11)
- How Bridgestone and LanzaTech will work together on end-of-life tire recycling and how the carbon transformation process starts from the guy of a rabbit (8:33)
- How Bridgestone’s relationship with its dealers will help its sustainability goals trickle down the tire industry (14:15)

More on Bridgestone's sustainability goals: https://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/news/2021062901.html

More on AAPEX: www.aapexshow.com

You can also subscribe to What's Treading with Tire Review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.

Downtime is the enemy of fleets everywhere–a tire problem while on the road is a cog in the supply chain wheel, so to speak. Luckily, independent tire dealers and their teams act as the “superhero” when it comes to responding to service calls in a timely manner. Yet, while on the side of the road, your teams need to be equipped with not only the proper tools, but also the right training to protect themselves and successfully service the out-of-commission wheel assemblies.

That’s why learning proper tire service techniques is so important, whether your techs are out in the field or in the shop. In this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX 2022, Russ Devens, director of safety and risk management for McCarthy Tire Service, explains the training and techniques independent tire dealers must provide their technicians and how training can remain top of mind at the shop. Russ dives into:

- Three common safety mistakes when technicians are called to service a commercial tire (0:56)
- The importance of site assessment during a commercial tire service call (4:13)
- Equipment and resources that dealers should be giving their commercial tire service technicians (7:31)
- The dangers of complacency with commercial tire technicians and how dealers can handle this on their staff (10:51)
- Best practices for forming relationships with the fleet/driver when on a service call (13:09)

Listen to this episode here or subscribe to What’s Treading with Tire Review on 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaE

Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

You can watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rYE1NOtnlw&list=PLVkqUUE022sdAVQ6DuHU8cxd3FS2ni9vA

In an industry that either makes or sells those four round circles of rubber that go on your vehicle, there's quite a lot going on. Tire dealers are being hit hard by the most recent labor shortage, the evolution of technology teams you and your employees must stay on top of training and sustainability is at the forefront of tire technology. With more than 30 years in the tire industry, Tire Industry Association CEO Dick Gust has a bird's eye view of how all parties in the tire industry are addressing labor, training and sustainability.

In this episode of What's Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX 2022, Dick talks about these topics and more and how TIA and its members are addressing them now and how he sees them evolving in the future.

EPISODE OVERVIEW
- The importance of technician training despite shortages in labor and new training sessions TIA has in store for the industry (0:26)
- The latest efforts in OTR tire recycling and why Dick thinks OTR tires are "the new frontier" in tire recycling (2:54)
- How tire dealers can work with those across the industry to boost tire recycling efforts and how tire manufacturers are working to generate a circular economy in the tire industry(5:00)
- Why OTR tires are more of a challenge in creating a circular economy (7:34)
- Dick discusses sustainability and recycling resources for tire dealers (8:15)

Listen to this episode here or subscribe to What’s Treading with Tire Review on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaE

Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

You can watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rYE1NOtnlw&list=PLVkqUUE022sdAVQ6DuHU8cxd3FS2ni9vA

Wheels, especially on high-performance vehicles, are often a part of any vehicle that stands out. They come in different finishes, with various pieces and in all types of colors. Let’s face it: They are the outlandish sibling of the round, black tire. Tires and wheels are commodity items, but when your customer wants to customize the look of their vehicle, wheels are a great place to start, and offering the expertise of what’s hot in the market can be good for your business.

In a crowded wheel and tire market, it’s often hard to keep up with the latest trends, so let this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX 2022, help you out. Jimmy Blackburn, president of Blackburn OEM Wheel Solutions, stops by our studio to explain what he sees are some of the hottest wheel trends in the market and how his business is faring with supply constraints and changing consumer behavior as a result of the pandemic.

Listen here or subscribe to What’s Treading with Tire Review on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaE

Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

You can watch a video version of this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TireReview

You may have heard of Sun Auto Tire & Service. The company, formerly known as GB Auto Service, started in 2017 and just last year, it had record growth, doubling in size after acquiring 11 new automotive service brands in 12 new states. Currently, the company, backed by private equity firm Leonard Green & Associates, has more than 350 locations and is looking for opportunities to expand.

In this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX 2022, we’re joined by Tony Puckett, the company’s CEO, to review Sun Auto’s 2021 growth and what to expect in 2022. A 35-year Valvoline veteran, Puckett most recently served as head of Valvoline’s Quick Lube division where he oversaw the growth of that business from 900 to 1,500 locations. He joined Sun Auto in September 2021 and has been involved in another period of record growth for the company. In this episode, Puckett speaks about:

- The aspects of the company he credits for the growth of Sun Auto doubling in size in 2021 (1:10)
- Tactics and strategies he learned from growing Valvoline Quick Lube that he has applied to Sun Auto’s growth (2:20)
- How Sun Auto acquires tire businesses and reasons why he feels dealers partner with Sun Auto (4:50)
- The ways Sun Auto spreads best practices among its acquired locations (7:39)
- How Sun Auto is tackling the challenge of labor and qualified technicians in the tire industry (10:45)
- How he sees Sun Auto growing its geographic footprint in 2022 and beyond (16:35)

Listen to What’s Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX 2022, here or subscribe to the podcast on:

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaE

- Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rYE1NOtnlw&list=PLVkqUUE022sdAVQ6DuHU8cxd3FS2ni9vA

Drive by any construction site today, and you'll probably see tractors, loaders, skid steers - the mainstays that sites need to keep running. However, in recent years, those pieces of equipment have downsized, giving the market for compact construction, ag and lawn equipment a boost.

Now, that's not to say those large earthmovers are going extinct. In fact, they play a huge role in readying a site for construction. However, when efficiency comes into play, the tiny but mighty equipment is having its time in the spotlight, and there are lots of reasons why.

To discuss this trend and how it will impact tire dealers, we spoke with Bruce Besancon, vice president of sales for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires, in this episode of What's Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX 2022.

In this episode, Bruce delves into:

- Factors influencing the shift toward more compact equipment, especially in the construction sector.
- How the $1.2 trillion U.S. infrastructure bill signed into law late last year will impact the growth of compact equipment.
- How shifts in the market like this impact Yokohama's product strategy.
- How tire dealers can work with fleets, rental companies and their vendor partners to better service compact equipment as more of these machines come to market.

Watch here or subscribe to What's Treading with Tire Review on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaE

Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/what-s-treading-with-tire-review

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rYE1NOtnlw&list=PLVkqUUE022sdAVQ6DuHU8cxd3FS2ni9vA

You may have heard of the "Internet of Things," or IOT, as it's often referred to. But, if you’re scratching your head thinking, um…how does this relate to my tire business? We’re about to delve into just that.

In this episode of What's Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX 2022, we’re joined by Pete Liebetreu, vice president of marketing for Hunter Engineering Co., who describes how Hunter is using IOT its HunterNet2 technology. According to computer technology company Oracle, the Internet of Things is a network of physical objects—“your things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet. Think technologies like the Amazon Echo, for instance.

The way Hunter is using IOT is to address issues in shop efficiency. Hunter has the ability to connect its tire equipment, which includes tire changers, wheel balancers, alignment racks and more, to give you, the shop owner or tire dealer, data on how many jobs each machine has performed, how much money they’re bringing into the shop, missed service opportunities and more. Owners can see all of this data in the HunterNet 2 portal, which can be accessed via desktop or a mobile device.

To learn more about the capabilities of the HunterNet2 portal and what dealers can measure, we caught up with Leibetreu at this year’s SEMA Show, where he gave us a look into how the HunterNet 2 technology was created, exactly what it can measure for shops and its latest update that includes a multi-store view.

Listen here or subscribe to What’s Treading on:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-treading-with-tire-review/id1470309726

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GA3lp6AFo7V7EEG5awHaE

Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iv76bs6re7unom4p76myj3cakhm

Or, watch a video version of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUswYJsDNu5h8U6wSk29U4A