Mighty Tire Wholesale Inc., a wholly-owned division of Ziegler Tire, is the newest distributor of Cosmo-branded tyres. According to the company, this distribution expansion is part of Cosmo Tires’ strategic plan to expand market access for consumers.
Despite a 12 per cent drop in car tyre sales, an 18 per cent decline in the truck sector and a 34 per cent drop in agricultural tyre sales in the second quarter of 2023, according to ETRMA data, Italian wholesaler Univergomma is reporting a 10 per cent increase in turnover in the first half of 2023.
It’s 1973 and the tyre business in Europe is a very different and disconnected affair, with each national market a self-contained operation. For Jos Delcroix, this structure represented an opportunity, and in October of that year he founded Deldo, a company that has grown to become one of the largest tyre wholesalers in the region and an up-and-coming player worldwide.
Tiresur, a major distributor of passenger vehicle, commercial and off-highway tyres in the Iberian Peninsula, has begun work on its sixth warehouse. When completed, the 20,000 square metre facility in the Spanish city of Burgos will provide storage for more than 450,000 tyres and boast 20 loading bays. The wholesaler says this new facility will bring it even closer to customers within the region and in Europe.
Bleak economic circumstances generally create brand strategy complications within tyre distribution. Drivers’ demand for lower priced tyres as cost-of-living pressures hit their pockets can alter the dynamics at play in wholesalers’ exclusive brand offerings, which are often pitched as premiumised products with additional benefits that make paying more than a budget price worthwhile. Yet down markets are also a time to build for the future, sowing seeds that will yield benefits when the outlook brightens. In the case of Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS), a new-build warehouse in Scotland to support its business growth north of the border and a newly added exclusive distribution deal with Petlas are two ways in which the company is building for the future and managing the current market situation. Tyres & Accessories asked Graham Mitchell, MTS wholesale director, about its exclusive brands, which also include parent company Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ Falken Tyres, General Tire, and GT Radial, as well as the development of its warehouse in Bellshill, Scotland.
New summer patterns have the Mastersteel and Roadhog budget tyre ranges. These two private labels offered by Inter-Sprint Banden B.V. are amongst the more than 17,000 SKUs of passenger, light commercial, truck and two-wheeler tyres that Europe’s largest privately owned tyre importer and distributor holds within its in-house stock of around 3 million tyres. These latest Mastersteel and Roadhog products arrive from September.
Cambrian Tyres Ltd, premier two-wheel tyre distributor to the trade, has announced a partnership with Rebel Tyres that it calls “an exciting new chapter for the domestic off-road market.” Introducing the Spanish brand, Cambrian says Rebel Tyres is known for its cutting-edge innovation and commitment to excellence.
Swedish public transport operator Flexbuss – not to be confused with the firm with the green-liveried intercity coaches – has entered into a cooperation with tyre distributor Colmec Group, beginning 1 September 2023. Announcing the arrangement, Colmec key account manager Mikael Kjellgren said “we are very happy that Flexbuss chooses Colmec as its comprehensive partner regarding tyres and tyre service and I look forward to developing together.”
In the truck tyre segment, Kirkby Tyres reports that the company continues to “differentiate and invest in quality brands rather than operating at the budget end of the market, which at times is nothing more than a race to the bottom.”
Established in the West Midlands in 2012, GB Tyres has reportedly become one of the fastest-growing tyre importers and exporters in Europe. Nevertheless, despite its large and growing size, the business is still family-run and puts customer service at the heart of its ethos. The business offers a wide range of commercial vehicle tyres in stock. In fact, GB Tyres boasts one of the largest stocks of commercial vehicle tyres across Europe.
Canada’s largest locally owned tyre distributor has acquired the country’s largest manufacturer and distributor of alloy and steel wheels and accessories. With its purchase of Fastco Canada, Groupe Touchette Inc., views itself as positioned to “significantly expand” its service offering and is confident the transaction will provide Fastco Canada with “greater access to new markets.” The tyre wholesaler also speaks of “strong synergies in product offering.”
Together with local distribution partner Bohnenkamp, Sailun Group has become tyre partner of German football club VfL Osnabrück, which currently plays in the second division 2. Bundesliga. Sailun has come on board as a premium partner, while Bohnenkamp and the Maxam brand serve as team partners. This joint arrangement will initially run for three years.
TireHub is now five years old and says it is looking forward to future growth. The US-based national tyre distributor, which was co-founded by Bridgestone & Goodyear, now operates 80 TireHub Logistics Centers and will add more to the network in the coming months, and TireHub also plans to open its first regional distribution centre later this year.
GB Tyres has bought Nordic Tyres (UK) Ltd. Nordic Tyres, which is based in Dumfries, Scotland, was established in 1999 and has become a well-known name in the UK agricultural and forestry tyre sectors. Alan Lindsay, managing director, Nordic Tyres will remain in the business.
Cosmo Tires and Paul’s Tire Services of Hollywood, Florida have opened the first Cosmo-branded retail store. The 8,000 square foot facility marks a significant milestone for Cosmo Tires offering “an enhanced tyre shopping experience for its customers.”
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