Few Modern Tire Dealer exclusives are more anticipated than the MTD 100, our in-depth look at the 100 largest independent tire dealerships in the United States. The 2020 version of the MTD 100 appears in our July issue – and I promise you, it’s a can’t-miss.
A lot has happened since last year’s MTD 100 was published.
Three longtime “residents” of the MTD 100 – Raben Tire Co., Lamb’s Tire & Automotive Centers and Superior Tire and Service – have since been acquired by bigger entities.
A perennial “top five” dealership, Les Schwab Tire Centers, was put up for sale. (The dealership’s owners recently put the company’s sales process on temporary hold.)
Mavis Tire Supply acquired more than 100 NTB Tire & Service Center locations from TBC Corp.
Tire Discounters added several stores and is rapidly closing in on its stated goal of opening 135 locations before the end of the summer.
Other dealerships – including Snider Tire Inc., Purcell Tire & Rubber Co., Leeds West Groups, McCarthy Tire Service, Pomp’s Tire Service, Jack’s Tire and Oil, Pete’s Tire Barns, Steve Shannon Tire, Burt Brothers Tire, Plaza Tire, Flynn’s Tire, S&S Tire and more – expanded through acquisitions.
Virginia Tire & Auto added two stores, as did Gill’s Point S. Discount Tire added stores, as well, bringing its total footprint to more than 1,070 locations.
Several weeks ago, GB Auto Service Inc. acquired 32 locations in Arizona, Nevada and Texas. (GB Auto has 133 locations within its footprint that currently sell tires. By the way, I recently interviewed GB Auto Service CEO Frank Kneller about the company’s acquisition strategy. You can read his remarks here.)
And a handful of tire dealerships made their MTD 100 debut this year.
In this year of change, two things have remained constant: independent tire dealerships' dominance of the U.S. replacement tire market and dealers’ influence at the sales counter.
Independent dealers comprise the single largest replacement consumer tire sales channel in the U.S., making up a whopping 63% of the market. (The next closest group, mass merchandisers, comprise 10.5%.)
And independent dealers continue to influence the tire sale 70% of the time, according to MTD research.
As part of our celebration of the 2020 MTD 100, this week www.moderntiredealer.com will feature exclusive profiles of some of the country’s largest independent tire dealerships, starting today with Jensen Tire & Auto.
Executives from these companies will talk about the state of demand in their respective markets, what they think the rest of 2020 will bring and how they are positioning their businesses for continued success and growth.
Finally, let us know what your plans are for the rest of the year and beyond. Are you planning to add locations? Are you investing in new tools, equipment and personnel? Are you planning to enter a new market or segment? Will you pick up a new line or brand?
We want to hear about what your dealership is doing. Feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing from you!
