Everybody wants some As if you needed further proof that it’s great to be a Cooper Tire dealer, Goodyear just coughed up $2.8 billion in cash and stock for the privilege. And you’ve been doing it for free all these years. Feel a little guilty? Like the prettiest girl (or handsomest dude) at the club, Cooper has gotten very desirable over the last number of years. Nearly every chain and distributor has or wants to sell Cooper Tires. They know what you know. Cooper makes some great products and markets and supports them in a very straightforward and effective way.

Everybody needs some None of this surprises me. It’s about more than the money and brand names. Tire manufacturers need more US production capability. Now way more than ever. Tariffs and duties make bringing tires into the US a very expensive proposition. Shipping tires over from Asia has gotten more and more problematic with limited dockspace, container shortages, lack of railcars and the burgeoning truck driver shortage. Throw Covid into the mix and it gets messier yet. What did Hankook and Falken just get done announcing? Spending $90 million dollars each expanding their American plants. Goodyear just did the same, but in a bolder manner. By gobbling up Cooper, they just gained an extra 97,000 passenger and light truck units. Great timing!

Change, nothin' stays the same Around 500 BC a philosopher named Heraclitus said, “The Only Constant in Life is Change.” He would have loved 21st century business. Especially 2021.  K&W Tire has been around close to 70 years. I’ve been with the company for over 30. I can remember going into dealers and having to explain who Cooper even was. I haven't had to do that for a long time. One thing is for sure. You are independent tire dealers. Your resilience comes from that. You can make whatever changes you think best suit your business. We’ve always known that and I’m sure Cooper and Goodyear are thinking about your continued happiness. They need you to succeed.

I want some too So whether you take your wisdom from ancient Greeks, or noted 20th century philosophers Van Halen, it’s always time to hit the ground running. I’m looking forward to whatever happens next and I’d love the opportunity to add the Goodyear brand to K&W’s lineup.  Have a great weekend. Rock on!

Need to talk? Call me 717.314.4949 Jeff Short

Thank you for your continued support!