WHO ARE THE TOP 100? The big keep getting bigger. For the fourth year in a

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1 WHO ARE THE TOP? The big keep getting bigger. For the fourth year in a row, Tire Kingdom Inc. is the largest independent tire store chain in the United States with 69 retail stores as of June, 7. Tire Kingdom narrowly edged out Discount Tire Co. Inc. this year by one location. As consolidation continues, competition between the nation s largest independent tire store chains has never been more intense. And it will only heat up as independent tire dealerships continue to add locations. In this special section, Modern Tire Dealer examines the biggest independent chains in the U.S. via its updated Top Domestic Independent Tire Store Chains list, including a detailed look at the top. And as part of Modern Tire Dealer s expanded coverage this year, we also bring you in-depth profiles on three of the Top, including Hennelly Tire & Auto Inc. dba The Tire Choice, Tire Guys Inc. dba Tire-Rama Inc. and Evans Tire & Service Center Inc.. Tire Kingdom Inc. (Juno Beach, Fla.) Total number of outlets: 69 (all retail). Tire brands: BFGoodrich, Dunlop, Falken, General, Continental, Kumho, Michelin, Sigma, Pirelli, Goodyear, Uniroyal, Yokohama, Sumitomo. 6 sales: $. billion. Chief officer: Orland Wolford, CEO and. Web site: Analysis: Our internal growth has been about stores a year, says Wolford. Two-thirds of those have been National Tire & Battery outlets. Tire Kingdom has targeted major markets like Dallas and Houston, Texas, plus Boston, Mass., and Chicago, Ill. We haven t made an acquisition in a while, but that s not to say we won t.. Discount Tire Co. Inc. (Scottsdale, Ariz.) Total number of outlets: 68 (all retail). Tire brands: Arizonian, Goodyear, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Michelin, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Yokohama, Fisk, Continental, General, Falken, Kumho, Hankook, Cooper, Nitto, Pathfinder. 6 sales: $. billion. Chief officer: Thomas Englert, CEO. Web site: Analysis: Discount Tire entered the Nashville, Tenn., market last month via the opening of a new store. Tennessee is a new market for us, says Discount Tire Vice Chairman Gary Van Brunt. More stores are planned for the state. Discount Tire doesn t have a store count goal, but we say we open about one a week.. Les Schwab Tire Centers (Prineville, Ore.) Total number of outlets: (all retail). Tire brands: Dean, Hercules, Multi- Mile, Maxxis, Toyo, Ohtsu, Hankook, Federal. 6 sales: $.6 billion. Chief officer: Dick Borgman, CEO. Web site: Analysis: Les Schwab Tire Centers named -year-veteran Dick Borgman its new CEO last year. (Phil Wick remains the company s chairman.) The firm also announced it will move its corporate offices from Prineville, Ore., to a new,,-square-foot facility in Bend, Ore., next year. Les Schwab s distribution center and retread plant will stay in Prineville.. Monro Muffler Brake Inc. (Rochester, N.Y.) Total number of outlets: (all retail). Tire brands: Akuret, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin, Pirelli, Yokohama, others. 6 sales: $ million (tire stores only). Chief officer: Robert Gross, CEO. Web sites: and Analysis: Look for three or four small acquisitions within the next months, says Gross, who defines small as operations with to lo-

2 cations. In addition, Monro is planning to declare a three-for-two split of its common stock in the form of a % stock dividend. The split is subject to shareholder approval.. Somerset Tire Service Inc. (Bound Brook, N.J.) Total number of outlets: (all retail). Tire brands: Bridgestone, Firestone, Continental, Toyo, Pirelli, Michelin, Goodyear, Federal, Runway. 6 sales: not available. Chief officer: Bill Caulin,. Web site: Analysis: Somerset Tire Service says it will continue its normal growth plan. The company has added six outlets since last year s Top Independent Domestic Tire Store Chains list was published. 6. Big Tire Stores Inc. (Mobile, Ala.) Total number of outlets: (all retail). Tire brands: BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Uniroyal, Kelly, Firestone, Michelin. 6 sales: not available. Chief officer: Robert Don Kennemer,. Web site: Analysis: Last November, Boca-Raton, Fla.-based private investment firm Sun Capital Partners Inc. acquired the company. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Big Tire Stores has outlets in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Future plans call for five to new store openings each year, and entering new markets throughout the Southeast, according to the company s Web site. 7. Belle Tire Distributors Inc. (Allen Park, Mich.) Total number of outlets: 8 (76 retail and nine commercial). Tire brands: Kelly, Goodyear, Dunlop, Kumho, Firestone, Bridgestone, Michelin, American, Toyo, General, GITI, Continental, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, others. 6 sales: not available. Chief officer: Don Barnes Jr.,. Web site: Analysis: Belle Tire moved into its new distribution center several months ago. The facility also contains Belle Tire s corporate office and training department. The new facility gives the firm, square feet of warehouse space that can accommodate up to, tires and wheels. 8. Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. (Potosi, Mo.) Total number of outlets: 67 (8 retail, four commercial and combination retail/commercial). Tire brands: Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Michelin, Toyo, Yokohama. 6 sales: $ million. Chief officer: Robert Purcell,. Web site: Analysis: Purcell Tire moved into a new $ million office/warehouse facility in Phoenix, Ariz., late last year. The new complex spans 8, square feet. This past March, the company announced it will invest $ million in its giant OTR tire retread ( inches and larger) operation. 8. Town Fair Tire Centers Inc. (East Haven, Conn.) Total number of outlets: 67 (retail only). Tire brands: BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, Pirelli, Kelly, Michelin, Toyo, Uniroyal, Continental, General, Dunlop, Goodyear, Hankook, Yokohama. 6 sales: not available. Chief officer: Neil Mellen, CEO and. Web site: Analysis: Town Fair Tire Centers Inc. is currently doing business in its native Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.. Pomp s Tire Service (Green Bay, Wis.) Total number of outlets: 6 (two retail, commercial and combination retail/commercial). Tire brands: Bridgestone, Firestone, Cordovan, Kelly, Dayton, General, Michelin, Yokohama. 6 sales: not available. Chief officer: Jim Wochinske,. Web site: Analysis: More growth is expected from Pomp s Tire Service Inc. Pomp s has locations in seven Midwestern states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota. MTD JULY 7

3 MTD s Top Domestic Independent Tire Store Chains. Peerless Tyre Co. Denver, Colo. 8 8 Bridgestone, Cordovan, Firestone, Hankook, Peerless Sam Forbes, Mavis Discount Tire Mount Kisco, N.Y. 6 6 Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear Stephen and David Sorbaro, owners Sullivan Tire Co. Inc. Norwell, Mass. 6 Goodyear, Dunlop, General, Continental, Pirelli, Kumho, Uniroyal, BFGoodrich, Michelin, Bridgestone, Firestone, Others Robert D. Sullivan, VIP Parts, Tires and Service Lewiston, Maine 6 BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Goodyear, Multi-Mile, Falken, Michelin, Pirelli, Firestone, Continental, General John Quirk, CEO/ Tire Discounters Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio Michelin, Kumho, Goodyar, BFGoodrich, Dunlop, Toyo, Kelly, American, Continental, Uniroyal, Pirelli Chip Wood, Kauffman Tire Inc. Atlanta, Ga. 9 Goodyear, Cooper, Pirelli, Dunlop, Continental, General, Kumho, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Mastercraft, Toyo John H. Kauffman, chairman/ceo 7. Dunlap & Kyle Co. Inc./Gateway Tire & Service Center Batesville, Miss. 8 8 Cordovan, Federal, Toyo, Firestone, Gateway, Kumho, Maxxis, Sigma, Multi-Mile, Road King, Wanli, Others Robert (Bob) Dunlap, chairman/ceo 7. Kost Tire/Muffler Binghamton, N.Y. 8 8 Bridgestone, Firestone, Cordovan, Goodyear, Cooper, Continental, Dunlop, General, Kumho, Hankook, BFGoodrich, Michelin Mike & Erwin Kost, co-owners 9. Plaza Tire Service Cape Girardeau, Mo. Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Pirelli, Yokohama, Summit, Toyo, Michelin, BFGoodrich Mark Rhodes, Bob Sumerel Tire Co. Inc. Erlanger, Ky. 8 Michelin, Bridgestone, Firestone, Yokohama, Continental, General, Cooper Bob Sumerel, CEO AKH Co. Inc. (dba Discount Tire Centers) Huntington Beach, Calif. Goodyear, Michelin, Dunlop, Pirelli, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Kumho, Star Andy Andonian, chairman AM-PAC Tire Distributors/Tire Pros Simi Valley, Calif. American, BFGoodrich, Continental, Dayton, Dunlop, Firestone, Capitol, Michelin, Pirelli, Uniroyal, Ohtsu, Negotiator Dennis Mangola, CEO/ Colony Tire Corp. Edenton, N.C. 8 8 Cooper, Kumho, Mastercraft, Michelin, Multi-Mile, Toyo, BFGoodrich Charles Creighton, owner Tire Warehouse Central Inc. Keene, N.H. 8 8 BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, Dunlop, Continental, General, Goodyear, Michelin, Republic, Yokohama, Runway, Others Robert Dabrowski, Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers Inc. High Ridge, Mo. 7 7 Goodyear, Michelin, Cooper, Dunlop, Continental, BFGoodrich, Pirelli, Cordovan David Dobbs, KEY: N/A = Not Available 6

4 MTD s Top Domestic Independent Tire Store Chains 6. Rent-A-Wheel Inc./Rent-A-Tire Van Nuys, Calif. Falken, Hankook, Toyo, Others John Bowlin, 6. S&S Firestone Inc. Lexington, Ky. Bridgestone, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Mastercraft, Michelin, Yokohama Paul Swentzel, 8. Raben Tire Co. Inc. Evansville, Ind. Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal Thomas Raben, 9. Ben Tire Distributors Ltd. Toledo, Ill. Multi-Mile, Cooper, Toyo, Dean, Yokohama, Sumitomo, Goodyear, Firestone, Hankook Burnham Neal, Conrad s Tire Express & Total Car Care Cleveland, Ohio Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Michelin, Uniroyal, BFGoodrich, Cooper, Yokohama, Hankook, Republic John Turk, CEO/ Scher Tire Inc. Riverside, Calif. Goodyear, Pirelli, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Dunlop, Republic, Bridgestone, Kumho Bruce Scher, owner Tire Guys Inc/Tire-Rama Inc. Billings, Mont. Bridgestone, Firestone, Cooper, Kenda, Pro-Comp, Yokohama David Wehr, American Tire Depot Irwindale, Calif. 9 9 Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Cavalier, Goodyear, Dunlop, Bridgestone, Others Ara Tchaghlassian, Fletcher s Tire & Auto Service Inc. Phoenix, Ariz. 9 9 BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Dayton, Firestone, Michelin Jerry Fletcher, Mountain View Tire & Service Inc. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 9 9 Dunlop, Goodyear, Republic Nicholas Mitsos, T.O. Haas Tire Co. Inc. Lincoln, Neb. 9 9 BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, Kumho, Uniroyal George Hoellen, Vespia s Tire & Auto Service Centers Inc. South River, N.J. 9 9 Dunlop, Goodyear, Kelly Phil Vespia, 8. Bauer Built Inc. Durand, Wis. 8 8 BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, Kumho, Hercules, Michelin Jerry Bauer, 8. Black s Tire Service & Auto Service Whiteville, N.C. 8 8 Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Cooper, Dean, Ohtsu, Falken, Federal, Hankook, Republic, Pirelli, Steelmark, Roadmaster Ricky Benton, CEO/ 8. McCarthy Tire Service Inc. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 8 Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Continental, General, Goodyear, Yokohama, BFGoodrich, Michelin, Uniroyal John McCarthy Sr., Commercial Tire Inc. Meridian, Idaho 6 7 Bridgestone, Cooper, Dayton, Firestone, Yokohama, Fuzion, Nankang Bob Schwenkfelder, /- general manager 8

5 MTD s Top Domestic Independent Tire Store Chains. Dunn Tire LLC Buffalo, N.Y. 7 7 Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Michelin,, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Kumho, Falken, Dean, Mastercraft, Continental, General Randall Clark, chairman Everybody s Oil Corp. dba Tire Barn Anderson, Ind. 7 7 Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Kelly, Toyo Christopher Jones, CEO/ Jack Williams Tire Co. Moosic, Pa. 7 7 Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Continental, General, American, National, Nokian, Toyo, Multi-Mile, Carlisle, Yokohama Bill Williams, CEO Cross-Midwest Tire Kansas City, Mo. 6 Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Continental, General, Yokohama, GT Greg Trum, Grismer Tire Co. Dayton, Ohio 6 Michelin, Dayton, Bridgestone, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Nokian, General, Continental, Uniroyal, Falken Charles Marshall, Service Tire Truck Centers Bethlehem, Pa. 6 Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, Yokohama Ronald Bennett, CEO/ 8. Express Tire Auto Service Center Escondido, Calif. Cooper, Goodyear, Toyo John Marchioni, 9. Graham Tire Co. Sioux Falls, S.D. 9 Cooper, Dunlop, Falken, Goodyear, Kelly, Titan Bob and Tom Graham, owners 9. Martino Tire Co. Miami, Fla. Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Republic, Falken, Continental, GT, General Andy Martino, Action-Gator Tire Stores Orlando, Fla. BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Kelly, Michelin, Nankang, Republic, Uniroyal Fred Christensen, Appalachian Tire Products Inc. Charleston, W.Va. Goodyear, Kelly, Cordovan, Dunlop, Others Jennifer Dial, Kramer Tire Norfolk, Va. Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Toyo, Pirelli, Yokohama, Continental, General, Delta, National, GT Ronald Kramer, Nebraskaland/Kansasland Tire Group Lexington, Neb. Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Pirelli, Star, Republic, Nankang Gary Wright, Ziegler Tire & Oil Co. Massillon, Ohio 6 Michelin, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Continental, General, Delta, Gladiator, GT William Ziegler, 6. Allen Tire Co. Lakewood, Calif. Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, Toyo, Michelin, BFGoodrich Fred Allen, 6. C.S.B. Partnership Capistrano Beach, Calif. Big O, Fulda, Pirelli, Yokohama, BFGoodrich, Dunlop, Michelin, Goodyear, Uniroyal Christopher Phillips, owner

6 MTD s Top Domestic Independent Tire Store Chains 6. Western Tire Centers Inc. Tucson, Ariz. BFGoodrich, Continental, Cooper, General, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Mohawk, Pirelli, Uniroyal, Yokohama Jack Furrier, 9. A to Z Tire & Battery Inc. Amarillo, Texas Bridgestone, Carlisle, Continental, Dayton, Yokohama, Firestone, General, Kumho, National, Ohtsu, Toyo Philip Nussbaum, 9. Snider Tire Inc. Greensboro, N.C. Bridgestone, Firestone, Continental, General, Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Yokohama John Snider, 6. Certified Tire & Service Centers Riverside, Calif. 9 9 Dunlop, Falken, Goodyear, Hercules, Star Jeff Darrow, 6. Jensen Tire & Auto Omaha, Neb. 9 9 BFGoodrich, Dunlop, Goodyear, Kelly, Michelin, Toyo, Cordovan Matthew Jensen, 6. Capital Tire Inc. Toledo, Ohio 8 Goodyear, Dunlop, Geostar, Cooper, Blue Streak, Republic, Mickey Thompson, Kenda, Toyo Tom Geiger Jr., 6. Flynn s Tire & Auto Service Hermitage, PA 7 8 Kelly, Dunlop, Goodyear, Nankang, Republic, Yokohama Joe Flynn, 6. Southern Indiana Tire Inc. Princeton, Ind. 8 8 Bridgestone, Firestone, Yokohama, Dayton, General, Michelin, Uniroyal, Mastercraft, Carlisle, Titan Paul Weaver, 6. Steve Shannon Tire & Auto Centers Bloomsburg, Pa. 8 8 Bridgestone, Delta, Firestone, Kumho Steve Shannon, CEO/ Hennelly Tire & Auto Inc. dba The Tire Choice Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 7 7 Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Yokohama, BFGoodrich Dan and Diane Hennelly, owners Jennings Tire Co./American Tire Co. Murfreesboro, Tenn. 7 Dunlop, Goodyear, Kelly, Republic, Titan, Duro H. B. Willis, CEO Lamb s Tire & Automotive Center Austin, Texas 7 7 Goodyear, Dunlop, Republic John Lamb Sr., CEO/ Valley Tire Co. Inc. Charleroi, Pa. 9 7 Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, Yokohama James Stankiewicz, 7. Allied Oil & Supply Inc./Allied Tire Co. Omaha, Neb. BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Dayton, Firestone, Michelin Conrad Heinson, 7. Evans Tire & Service Center Inc. Escondido, Calif. BFGoodrich, Kelly, Star, Falken, Dunlop, Pirelli, Goodyear, Michelin John Andonian, 7. Ken Towery s AutoCare Super- Centers Louisville, Ky. Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Kumho Ken Towery,

7 MTD s Top Domestic Independent Tire Store Chains 7. McGee Tire Stores Eaton Park, Fla. Goodyear, Kelly, Yokohama, Dunlop, Hankook Mike McGee, 7. Northwest Tire and Service Flint, Mich. Goodyear, Michelin, Mastercraft, BFGoodrich, Dunlop A.J. Faught, 7. Royal Tire Inc. St. Cloud, Minn. 8 6 Aurora, Bridgestone, Firestone, Mastercraft, Michelin, Toyo, Goodyear, BFGoodrich Patrick Duininck, Cassidy Tire & Service Chicago, Ill. Toyo, Continental, General, Nexen, Cooper, Mastercraft John Ahern, owner Clark Tire & Auto Hickory, N.C. Dunlop, Goodyear, GT, Hankook, Kelly, Michelin John Clark, owner/ceo Tireman Auto Service Centers Toledo, Ohio Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Continental, General, Kumho, Hankook, Vanderbilt, Multi-Mile Randy Jones, 8. Advanced Auto Service & Tire Center Mesa, Ariz. Continental, General, Goodyear, Republic, Sumitomo, Toyo Paul Couture, owner 8. Chicago Bandag Group Melrose Park, Ill. Bridgestone, Firestone, Michelin, Continental, General, Toyo Dan Sickafoose, CEO/ 8. Enger Auto Service & Tire Inc. Euclid, Ohio Dunlop, Goodyear, Others Jim Enger, owner 8. F&F s Tire World Janesville, Wis. Michelin, Goodyear, Hankook, BFGoodrich, Continental, Uniroyal Jeff DeVries, 8. Pete s Tire Barns Inc. Orange, Mass. 7 7 Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear, Continental, General, Cooper, Yokohama, Carlisle Peter Gerry, 8. Ramona Tire & Service Centers Hemet, Calif. Bridgestone, Continental, Falken, Firestone, General, Hankook Don Digby, CEO Alton s Tire & Automotive Spokane, Wash. Hankook, Bridgestone, Nexen, Others Duane Alton, owner Big Brand Tire Co. Bakersfield, Calif. Cooper, Pirelli, Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Kumho, Bridgestone, Firestone, Continental, Sumitomo, Yokohama Greg Robinson, Chabill s Tire Service Inc. Morgan City, La. BFGoodrich, Cooper, Michelin, Uniroyal, Goodyear, Kelly Charles Gowland and William Parker, owners Delta World Tire Co. New Orleans, La. Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Riken, Yokohama, Toyo Kevin Cates, N/A 86. Free Service Tire Co. Inc. Johnson City, Tenn. Continental, General, Yokohama, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, ProComp, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Pirelli, Others Lewis Wexler Sr., chairman /CEO

8 MTD s Top Domestic Independent Tire Store Chains 86. Nebraska Tire Firth, Neb. Mohawk, Yokohama, Brigadier, Triangle, Maxxis, Michelin, BFGoodrich Bruce Docter Stratham Tire Stratham. N.H. Hankook, Michelin, Remington, Toyo, Kelly Lional LaBonte, Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Centers Las Vegas, Nev. Bridgestone, Firestone, General, Continental, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Dayton, Uniroyal, Solideal Ted Wiens, 9. Mock Beroth Tire & Automotive Winston-Salem, N.C. Bridgestone, Dayton, Firestone, Kumho, Michelin Floyd Mock, T. Beroth 9. Valley Forge Tire & Auto Centers King of Prussia, Pa. BFGoodrich, Michelin, Uniroyal, Continental, General, Medalist, Riken Jon Gerben, 9. Warren Tire Service Center Inc. Queensbury, N.Y. 9 Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Republic, Michelin Wayne Kellogg, Action Tire Co. Forest Park, Ga. Toyo, Ohtsu, Hercules, Akuret, Roadmaster, Cooper Rick Stewart, Associated Tire Stores Inc. Logan, Utah Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Others Larry Nicholls Bruneel Tire Factory Boise, Idaho Cooper, Hankook, Mastercraft Craig Bruneel, Daniels Tire Service Inc. Santa Fe Springs, Calif. Goodyear, Others Douglas Daniels, Eddies Tire Service Inc. Berkeley Springs, W.Va. BFGoodrich, Hankook, Carlisle, Mastercraft, Michelin, Titan, Toyo, Uniroyal Deborah Dhayer, CEO/COO/vice N/A 97. Freedom Tire and Auto Service Des Moines, Iowa Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Republic, BFGoodrich, Kumho, Michelin, General, Continental Russ Crowner, owner MFA Oil Co. Columbia, Mo. Big O, Yokohama, Goodyear, Others Jerry Taylor, Moore s Retread & Tire Co. Shreveport, La. Goodyear, Michelin, Dunlop, Kelly, Nokian, Hankook Daniel Hutchison, P.R. Walker Inc./Tire Tracks Joliet, Ill. Bridgestone, Firestone, Goodyear, Dunlop, Others Frank Shipla, N/A 97. Wood & Fullerton Inc. Roswell, Ga. Goodyear W. Gary Fullerton, owner 6