We Try Harder by Roy Littlefield TIA Executive Vice President I can remember a rental car agency that used the phrase, “We Try Harder” in a very popular marketing campaign. That company had become the second largest rental company, and used this unique campaign to gain market share. The final registration numbers were very impressive numbers for the Annual PTW/SEMA Convention and Trade Show. Registration statistics revealed there were 7,085 tire dealers, 57,439 buyers, and total registration stood at 114,832. Some 2,050 exhibitors utilized over 1,100,000 square feet on the trade show floor. We saw great growth in the PTW section, as we expanded into two temporary halls for an additional 600 booths. Buyers from over 100 countries were in attendance. Our registration numbers confirmed that the PTW/SEMA event is now officially the second largest convention and trade show in the world. It is an amazing membership benefit to be a partner in this convention. The trade show, educational seminar offerings, entertainment, and industry events present a unique opportunity for TIA members to see the latest in technology and to meet with industry leaders. We are a major player in the world’s largest automotive related convention and trade show. Should we sit on our laurels? Absolutely not. We need to try harder! We have a great opportunity to build on the success of this show to make it more valuable to our members in future years. ‘Our registration numbers confirmed that the PTW/SEMA event was now officially the second largest convention and trade show in the world.’ With over 7,000 tire dealers at the show, we must do a better job in welcoming dealers into TIA functions. I talked to one TIA member who had never attended our “Breakfast with the President” because he was under the impression that it was a “private” affair for the Board of Directors and Association leadership. Director of Meeting Planning and Advertising, LaKisha Pindell, and Chairman of the Events Committee, Tom Formanek, set a new standard for the Welcoming Reception. Set at the Caesars Palace poolside, the event was truly spectacular. The only way I can think to improve this event would be to attract more members. With dealers in attendance from over 100 countries, we must work with the TIA Global Council to offer an appropriate venue to bring our international friends together. This is a unique opportunity for TIA to expand its global representation. With over 2,000 exhibiting companies, it is hard to imagine how we can improve on the trade show. This year we expanded into two temporary halls adding about 600,000 square feet of exhibition space. We must get feedback from the companies that exhibited in those facilities to gauge their support or concern with the experience. This year, the TIA booth was packed. We sold record amounts of training and plan to use that momentum to increase membership and participation in our insurance and credit card programs. Judging from the activity in our booth, there was tremendous excitement at the 2005 PTW/SEMA show. Members who had never been to a show told me that the show far exceeded all expectations. Members who have attended the shows for years told me that this was the best show they have ever seen. ‘Members who had never been to a show told me that the show far exceeded all expectations. Members who have attended the shows for years told me that this was the best show they have ever seen.’ Numerous surveys of national trade association members conclude that members believe that a good national convention and trade show is the number one reason to join and stay a part of a national association. In that regard, TIA is most fortunate. We have a tremendous relationship with SEMA. We have tremendous supplier support and buy-in. Yet, we have many “opportunities” to improve. We must reach out to the manufacturers and major industry supplier companies who do not either exhibit or support their dealers with hospitality receptions. We must determine why they are not at the show and invite them to participate. And we must do a better job of educating them on the value of their participation to them, to their dealers, and to potential dealers. We are also exploring a new marketing plan to get more dealers to the show. While the attendance members are staggering, there are thousands of tire dealers, both TIA members and non-members, who do not attend. Once we get tire dealers to the show, we will take a new approach to get more dealers to participate in TIA events. We’re also going to look at our “Tires at Two” educational seminars. Some seminars attracted over 100 attendees per class while others attracted so few that we considered canceling the presentation. We need to put forth hard-hitting, timely, professional, and knowledgeable seminars to make sure we are offering seminars on the right issues. I’m positive we will take your thoughts and comments and continue to make this show better and better. I believe that over the next few years you will see a more professional, more inclusive, more valuable TIA image. With your help, we will take the PTW/SEMA show to a new level, which will make us the largest convention and trade show in the world. The world’s largest convention and trade show is still the Consumer’s Electronics Show. The challenge is out to TIA and SEMA. We will try harder!

2005 TIA Performance Tires & Wheels Show: Highlights

With over 114,000 attendees, including 57,439 buyers the trade show floor was packed once again at the Performance Tires & Wheels (PTW) Show. This year’s number of exhibitors topped the 2,000 mark as they utilized over 1,100,000 square feet on the trade show floor. We saw great growth in the PTW section, as we expanded into two temporary halls for an additional 600 booths. Buyers from over 100 countries were in attendance. The PTW/SEMA event is now officially the second largest convention and trade show in the world.

Caesars Palace was the ideal setting for TIA’s Welcome Reception as well as the Breakfast with the
President. Members had the opportunity to network at the reception and enjoy the breathtaking surroundings. The breakfast was another chance for members to meet and take pride in recognizing leaders in the industry.

TIA President Bob Malerba, Past President Dick Gust, Events Committee Chairman Tom Formanek, the TIA Board of Directors, and the TIA Staff, would like to send a sincere thank you to all of the Association members, suppliers, exhibitors, speakers, and tire manufacturer officials who participated to make the show a resounding success.

Please join us in recognizing all of the Association award recipients:

Hall of Fame:
Eugene Beck, Jr.
John Sieff

Historical Contributors:
Fernley Banbury
Pierre Bourbon
Marius Mignol
Theodore Smith

TIA Appreciation Award:
Tom Wright

TIA would also like to recognize the following sponsors for their support:

• ASA Tire Systems
• American Tire Distributors
• Bridgestone Americas
• Comdata
• Cooper Tires
• HNA/Triveris
• Meadowbrook Insurance Group
• Modern Tire Dealer
• Universal Underwriters Group
• Yokohama

TIA Annual Meeting
TIA held our Annual Meeting during the Performance Tires & Wheels Show in Las Vegas on October 31, 2005. Incoming President Bob Malerba of Berlin Bandag presided over the meeting. TIA recognized the following outgoing board members at this event and thanked them for their service to the organization: Anne Evans, Tyres 2000, Ltd., Hebron, CT; Garry Heintschel, Heintschel Tire & Service, Texarkana, TX; and Larry Morgan, Morgan Tire & Auto, Clearwater, FL. Mr. Malerba also introduced and welcomed the following new and returning board members:

Steve Akridge, Virginia Automotive Association, Midlothian, VA;
Barbara Briggs, Briggs and Sons Tire, Fayetteville, NC;
Ken Brown, Alan Brown Tire Center, Newport, OR;
Ken Burton, OTR Wheel Engineering, Inc., Rome, GA;
Wayne Croswell, ASA Tire Systems, Nashua, NH;
Sean Furrier, Western Tire Centers, Inc., Tucson, AZ;
Chip Huber, Q Fix Truck Service, Louisville, KY
Harrell Huneycutt, Bandag, Inc., Muscatine, IA;
Brett Matschke, Richlonn’s Tire & Service Centers, Greendale, WI;
Larry Mullins, Brandon Tire & Auto Service, Ortonville, MI;
Anthony “Tony” Vizyak, Great Lakes Tire, Sandusky OH;
Tom Wright, Wright Tire Service, Anoka, MN.

TIA outgoing President Dick Gust announced the three winners of the Michelin/TIA scholarships. These students were awarded the following scholarships: Eliza Gollub from Dartmouth, MA, $5,000; David H. Hook from Monroe, NC, $5,000; and Kristen Trum, Stillwater, Kansas, $10,000.

The TIA membership then voted on three resolutions to guide the Association in future endeavors. They are as follows:

Lead Wheel Weights
WHEREAS, lead has been proven to be a toxic element;

WHEREAS, the tire industry provides lead wheel weights during routine tire service and maintenance;

WHEREAS, the tire industry often gives used wheel weights away to organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and various other sportsmen; and

WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is concerned with lead ending up in our environment and is considering banning the use of lead wheel weights;

NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, by the Tire Industry Association meeting this 31st day of October, 2005 in General Assembly, that the Association will work with the EPA to continue educational efforts of the tire industry as to the proper methods of safely recycling lead wheel weights.


Tire Aging
WHEREAS, there is no scientific data to suggest a hard date of when tires are “too old” to be used;

WHEREAS, the date of a tire’s manufacture is already on the sidewall, found as part of the Tire Identification Number (TIN);

WHEREAS, it would be too costly for tire manufacturers to retool their molds to add a “born on” date to the sidewall when that information is already there and because manufacturers have just retooled their molds due to the new tire labeling regulations NHTSA issued in 2002;

WHEREAS, consumers, while they should be aware of how old their tires are, have much greater safety concerns to worry about than aging such as proper inflation levels, safe tread depth and overloading of tires/vehicles;

WHEREAS, adding “born on” dates to the sidewall of tires could cause major inventory problems for independent tire dealers as consumers could request newer tires, leaving older ones to age further in a warehouse;

WHEREAS, “born on” dates could lead to unnecessary tire scrappage because of remaining inventory and consumers buying tires sooner than needed; and

WHEREAS, yearly or bi-yearly state safety inspections would remove any need for manufacturers to add a “born on” date to the sidewall of a tire;

NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, by the Tire Industry Association meeting this 31st day of October, 2005 in General Assembly, that the Association will continue to fight against efforts to add “born on” or expiration dates to the sidewall of a tire at the state and national level.


Tire Fuel Efficiency and Rolling Resistance
WHEREAS, many proposals have been introduced at the state and Federal level mandating consumers replace their original equipment tires with tires as fuel efficient or better;

WHEREAS, several rolling resistance studies are being conducted but not yet completed;

WHEREAS, mandating consumer choice would limit choice and harm the tire industry;

WHEREAS, proposals to mandate replacing tires with tires “as fuel efficient or better” would impose substantial costs on tire manufacturers to redesign all replacement tires for improved rolling resistance, then redesign tire treads and compounds to overcome safety and performance inadequacies associated with redesigning tires solely for upgrading rolling resistance;

WHEREAS, such proposals would dissuade consumers from buying tires that may have improved performance, handling or appearance features, based solely on a rolling resistance rating; and

WHEREAS, such legislation could drive consumers to purchase only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) recommended tires because the program exempts OEM-selected tires and unfairly implies that they are superior to aftermarket products;

NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, by the Tire Industry Association meeting this 31st day of October, 2005 in General Assembly, that the Association will work with the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the Specialty Equipment Market Association to defeat “tire fuel efficiency” bills based on rolling resistance studies until such studies are actually completed.

Rising to a Historical Occasion –
A Recap of the Breakfast with the President
Attendees who came to TIA’s Breakfast with the President on Tuesday, November 1st, arose early to hear inspiring and heartwarming words from present and past industry leaders. This event not only recognizes the newly installed officers for TIA, but it also features the induction of members into the TIA Hall of Fame.

TIA’s Master of Ceremonies and President-Elect, Paul Hyatt, welcomed attendees to the Roman Ballroom at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The regal hotel setting was a perfect backdrop to the recognition of industry legends. Dick Gust, outgoing TIA president, was given the honor of introducing this year’s inductees into the TIA Hall of Fame. TIA expanded the TIA Hall of Fame in 2005 by adding a category of “Historical Contributors.” This category recognizes those individuals who have made significant industry contributions and have been out of the industry for at least 20 years or more. They may be retired, deceased, or may have begun their career in the tire industry and moved on to a different industry.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2005 included dealers Eugene Beck Jr., president of Beck Tire International and John Sieff, retired president of S&M Tire Co. and Mr. Tire Service. Historical contributors recognized were Theodore Smith, founder, president, publisher and editor of India Rubber Review (now Tire Review); Fernley Banbury, inventor of the Banbury mixer; and Marius Mignol and Pierre Bourbon of Groupe Michelin, inventors of the radial tire.

Both Eugene Beck and John Sieff shared stories with the crowd about the growth of their careers and how humbled they were to now be in the TIA Hall of Fame. They acknowledged the support they received from their families and colleagues as the foundation of their success. Mr. Sieff has the unique honor of being part of the first father and son team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as his father, Phillip Sieff was inducted in 1988.

Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president, presented the Hall of Fame awards to company representatives for the four historical contributors. William Flaherty, group vice president of sales with Farrel Corporation accepted the award on behalf of Fernley Banbury, inventor of the modern internal mixer for elastomers; Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review accepted on behalf of Theodore Smith, founder, president, publisher and editor of India Rubber Review; and Jean-Michel Guillon, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Small Tires, accepted the award on behalf of Pierre Bourbon and Marius Mignol, inventors of the radial tire.
David Zielasko, editor of Crain’s Tire Business, then came to the stage and presented the Tire Business Humanitarian Award. This award is an annual honor that recognizes the outstanding charitable activities and public service work of an independent tire dealer or retreader. This year’s honoree was Steve Craven, owner of Craven Tire & Auto, a seven-outlet tire dealership in Fairfax, Virginia.

Steve is active in several Christian organizations, including serving as an elder in his church and as a board member for Faith in the Family, an organization devoted to strengthening families. He also serves on the advisory council of the Joe Gibbs’ Youth for Tomorrow Foundation, which provides a residential home for at risk teenagers. In addition to helping others in his local community, Steve is also a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight. Angel Flight is a non-profit organization whose mission and purpose is to ensure that no needy patient is denied access to distant specialized medical care or treatment because they can’t afford air transportation.

Steve is president of Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic, one of the organization’s six regions, which has some 1,200 volunteer pilots in 10 states. He’s also on the board of Angel Flight America, a group he helped found five years ago, which brought together six independent Angel Flight regions in the U.S. Angel Flight pilots donate the use of their own airplane, fuel, time, talent and financial resources to fly those in need to wherever they need to go for treatment.

When accepting the award, Steve shared a few stories from the 200 missions he has flown for Angel Flight. He has helped the very young, to the elderly, in getting the medical care they need. One of the first missions Steve flew was for a young boy who had accidentally tipped a pot of boiling oil on himself, searing a good portion of his body and head. Steve met the boy and his father at an airport in Manassas, Virginia. The father was sobbing. He flew them to Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Steve couldn’t hold back the tears as he relived the story and neither could anyone in the audience.

The breakfast continued with Tom Wright receiving the TIA Appreciation Award for his many years of dedicated service as an officer of the Association. Traditionally each year, the Association gives the outgoing president a gift to thank him for his hard work. However, this year Dick Gust asked that we make a donation to his favorite charity, so TIA made a donation to Ron Santo’s Walk for the Cure, an event held to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

After thanking the Association for its donation, Dick shared with the audience his thoughts on the past year as TIA’s president. He said he was extremely pleased with the progress TIA has made during his tenure. “From the tradeshows to a legislative lobby day in Washington, DC, the support from members has been tremendous,” said Gust. He also mentioned all of the member programs TIA has launched including, the workers’ compensation program through Meadowbrook Insurance, a new health insurance plan through Triveris as well as the continued success of the Kiely-Hines products liability program for retreaders.

Gust remarked that he was proud to say that TIA is truly the industry leader in the area of technician training and education. TIA has educated more than 20,000 individuals since 1997 and continues to develop reference materials, such as the Passenger and Light Truck Tire Conditions Manual, that serve as valuable resources for technicians. In response to the TREAD Act, TIA recently launched the new Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) training program. This program will teach automotive tire technicians the proper procedures for identifying, installing and servicing tire and wheel assemblies with a valve stem sensor. Since every vehicle manufactured for sale in the United States must have a TPMS after September 1, 2007, now is the time for retail tire dealers to train and educate employees. Gust continued his discussion on training by noting the growth of regional instructor and technician classes during the past year.

Gust closed his comments by saying, “The State of the Association is strong. The potential of this organization is phenomenal.” He then passed the presidential gavel to Bob Malerba to assume his new position.

Bob Malerba then shared his heartfelt thanks to his colleagues and family, in particular his wife of 35 years, Kitty, for their support that brought him to the place he is today. He also commented that he is very excited to be president at this great time in the Association and feels that TIA can rise to an even higher level.

During his term as president, he plans to visit as many state associations as possible and participate in industry meetings. Malerba’s desire is to meet face-to-face with members to discuss what is happening in their local communities and how TIA can be of assistance. “I plan to use TIA’s Strategic Plan as the guide that keeps the Association on track for continued growth,” remarked Malerba. “I am really looking forward to what the entire industry can accomplish through working together.”

For the past few years, tradition has dictated that the breakfast end with one lucky person being awarded $20,000 from the Cooper Tire and Rubber Company. Dick Stephens, president of the Tire Group, drew the name and the winner was Dick Eggen with Wallgren’s Les Schwab Tire Center in Oak Harbor, Washington.

TIA holds events like the Breakfast with the President to give members who attend PTW in Las Vegas an opportunity to network with other dealers and hear the plans for the Association. If you’re planning on coming back to Las Vegas for next year’s show or will be visiting for the first time, don’t miss this informative and inspiring event.