News You Can Use

RTA NEWS YOU CAN USE
September 8, 2015

At the risk of boring you with too many memos about Chinese truck tires, we present yet another email sent today in response to our first email earlier from George Thaler. But the following email from our good friend Ed Petros is worth reading and we think you will agree after you read it. Comments regarding the Chinese truck tire issue are ALWAYS interesting and we invite you to send one if you wish. Unless you tell us otherwise, we will print any comments received exactly as written.

Goerge... This is just my opinion, but...

Appreciate your perspective on retreading and Chinese tires. I've watched the Chinese economy for years, dating back to before the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Gong to China from England in 1997. This really created the more open economy that allowed China to grow. However, like you, I see that the Chinese economy has overheated and has been artificially inflated. The bubble is going to burst and there is a real possibility of a political revolution that will make Tiananmen Square look like a Tea Party rally.

I don't know how exactly that will all play out politically, but it most certainly will disturb the free flow of "cheap" Chinese tires. Of course, China isn't the only source of these inexpensive tires, but it should sufficiently disturpt the whole market and allow retreading to rebound.

Ultimately, retreading is recycling and we need to extend the life cycle of a tire casing when possible. Either way, new tires or retreads, we will sell whatever the market dictates, but I would prefer to see retreading remain a viable alternative.

Thanks for your insight,

Ed Petros
OTR District Sales Manager
Ed.Petros@gcrtires.com
(407) 470-2129
GCR Tires & Services
Div. Of Bridgestone Americas

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Do more than belong, participate.
Do more than care, help.
Do more than believe, practice.
Do more than be fair, be kind.
Do more than forgive, forget.
Do more than dream, work.
~ William Arthur Ward