Since the dissolution of its exclusive distribution agreement with the Maxxis brand, Grouptyre has continued to evolve, both in terms of the service offered by members and its brand strategy. While the wholesaler’s managing director, Karl Naylor said that it was “no longer in our customers’ interests for us to be over-dependent on one primary push brand”, the company has been particularly active in relation to its Evergreen brand, extending the Evergreen Performance Centre programme to retailers. In addition, the company has introduced the brands Landsail and Rapid, both of which are focussed on the end of the market particularly sensitive to economic pressure. As it has built the profile and image of Evergreen, manufactured by Jinyu Tire, these brands – also made in China respectively by the Sentaida and Shengtai Groups – have allowed Grouptyre members access to newer, less established margin brands simultaneously.