Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/762675
MTD December 2016 TravelCenters of America takes a big step into the commercial tire market T ravelCenters of America LLC has formed the TA Truck Service Commercial Tire Network and "significantly expanded" the ways the company sells tires, says Tom O'Brien, CEO and president of TravelCenters. at includes the number of brands it sells. "In addition to our traditional retail and national account offering, we have already added tire brands, including Cooper Tire Roadmaster, Goodyear Marathon and Kelly, and expect to add others soon, including BFGoodrich, Pirelli, and For- mula by Pirelli. We have also expanded the array of tire brands available through both our RoadSquad emergency roadside service and our growing OnSite mobile maintenance service. "Many of the tires in our lineup will now also be available for pick-up by customers, delivery at customer locations, and through direct sales. We believe that the TA Truck Service Commercial Tire Network is the largest independent commercial tire dealer in the United States, and that we have assembled a leadership and dedicated sales team to bring the combination of wide product choice, flexible delivery/install capability, and competitive pricing to our customers that may be unparalleled in the commercial tire business." e network spans 243 locations — more than three times the number of commercial outlets operated by Southern Tire Mart LLC, the largest independent commercial dealer in the country. Barry Richards, executive vice president of TravelCenters of America, says TA Truck Service Commercial Tire Network will feature Goodyear, BFGoodrich, Cooper, Yokohama, and Continental brand tires. " Our largest partner, Good- year , will feature a full line of Goodyear Marathon and Kelly tires available across the United States." Richards says the company plans to introduce Pirelli-brand commercial tires to the U.S. soon, beginning in the eastern U.S. and Texas. In addition, the Goodyear retread program will provide national brand consistency, according to Richards. He says select locations will offer local brand retreads. TravelCenters has been in the truck stop tire business for more than 40 years. e company says the TA Truck Service Commercial Tire Network will allow it to meet increased customer demand for flexible, efficient sourcing of com- mercial tires. e TA Truck Service network includes 243 truck service facilities, 1,079 repair bays, nearly 3,000 technicians, more than 1,600 RoadSquad Connect emergency roadside assistance vehicles and a growing fleet of OnSite mobile maintenance vehicles. — Ann Neal Commercially viable Mitas expands harvester tire size options Mitas, part of Trelleborg Group, is extending its range of Cyclic Harvesting Operation (CHO) tires with two new sizes, and three additional sizes coming in the first quarter of 2017. Mitas CHO tires are designed for combine harvesters, grain carts, and similar implements. Using hexacore technology, steel breakers, and flexible sidewalls the tires can handle larger loads at a lower tire pressure to protect the soil. Mitas CHO tires are available in nine sizes. The two newest sizes are 900/60R42 CHO 183D/186A8 SFT and 900/60R38 CHO 181D/184A8 SFT (pictured). MITAS A.S. Quik-Link: (800) 687-1557, ext. 23160 www.mtdquiklink.com/23160 Yokohama adds 4 sizes to its 104ZR truck tire line The company calls the 104ZR a workhorse designed to deliver longer tread wear, low rolling resistance, and even wear, and Yokohama has added four sizes to the lineup: 225/70R19.5, 245/70R19.5, 265/70R19.5, and 285/70R19.5. The 104ZR features a five-rib, full-depth tread pattern for a smooth, quiet ride; a serpentine groove pattern which reduces premature shoulder step-down and irregular wear; Zenviron- ment technology which helps stabilize performance over the life of the tire; specialized compounds for fuel economy; and an ultra-wide top steel belt across the full tread surface for extra durability. YOKOHAMA TIRE CORP. Quik-Link: (800) 687-1557, ext. 23161 www.mtdquiklink.com/23161 Barry Richards, executive vice president of TravelCenters of America, announced the addition of the new commercial tire dealer network in Las Vegas while the industry was gath- ered for the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. 52