Kevin Burke Tyres to supply BFGoodrich in Ireland to mid-2024

Kevin Burke Tyres (KBT) has signed an initial three-year distribution partnership with Groupe Michelin brand BFGoodrich. The wholesaler will supply BFGoodrich tyres across the whole of Ireland until at least mid-2024 with the option to extend for a further two years. The deal covers BFGoodrich car, van, SUV and 4×4 tyres, all of which will be stocked for next-day delivery at KBT’s warehouse facility in Athenry, County Galway. The company has stocked “large quantities” of BFGoodrich tyres since 2015, it said, with the new deal representing the latest step in its developing relationship with the brand. The deal follows news from Great Britain that newly appointed UK BFGoodrich 4×4 wholesaler Micheldever Tyre Services has almost doubled its sales of the brand in the last year.

Kevin Burke, managing director of KBT, says: “Tyre dealers now know we are the people to come to for BFGoodrich product, and we’ve invested heavily in holding the right levels of stock to ensure consistency of supply. Plus, with our own fleet, we can deliver the tyres quickly.

“Demand has been incredibly strong in recent months. The 4×4 ranges literally sell themselves, such is their reputation in the market. Plus, we are finding that once a customer has fitted BFGoodrich, they won’t have anything else on their vehicles. As a direct result, sales of the BFGoodrich Advantage and Advantage SUV tyres are starting to really ramp up too.”

KBT already supplies around 40 sub-dealers across Ireland and expects this number to rise year-on-year – backed by a commitment to growing its investment in stock in line with market demand.

Martin Thompson, BFGoodrich brand manager

Martin Thompson, BFGoodrich brand manager, explains: “Our formal relationship with KBT is really only in its infancy, yet we’ve already achieved some great results together.

“The KBT team brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding to the relationship, which is precisely what we want from a wholesale partner. They have proved very quickly that they share our passion and enthusiasm for the product and we’re all excited for what we can achieve together.”

Established in 1995, KBT has evolved from a tyre retailer catering for the local area, to one of Ireland’s largest wholesale tyre providers. In 2019 the firm relocated into a purpose-built facility located beside one of Ireland’s largest road networks.

KBT has recently updated its delivery fleet, choosing to livery one of its delivery vehicles with a full BFGoodrich vehicle wrap.

BFGoodrich is widely recognised as a world leader in off-road tyres, originating in Akron, Ohio in 1870.