Inside the Massive Tennessee Tire Plant Powering Hankook’s U.S. Growth

The AI Mistake That's Costing Tire Shops Sales

In this episode of What’s Treading, we delve deep into one of the biggest questions facing tire dealers and auto repair shops right now: Where does AI for tire shops actually belong in the business? Clay Whitaker, founder of Auto Shop Agents, joins the show to explain why AI works best when it is used in low-risk, practical ways, instead of as a full replacement for the people who build trust with customers every day. Should you use AI to cover missed calls? AI voice tools? Service advisor training? To investigate data or customer behaviors? Clay also shares what AutoShop Agents has learned from analyzing shop phone calls, including why giving a price too quickly, failing to build value and not asking for the appointment can cost shops business. He explains how AI-powered practice, coaching and performance tracking can help solve these issues. AI for tire shops can also help service advisors improve close rates across tires, brakes, oil changes, diagnostics and more. Plus, the discussion introduces Service Advisor League. This gamified platform helps advisors compete and see how their conversations stack up nationally.

Inside the Massive Tennessee Tire Plant Powering Hankook’s U.S. Growth

The Hankook Clarksville plant puts a lot of big tire industry talking points under one very large roof: domestic production, product availability, supply chain stability and proof-of-product testing. I visited Hankook’s Tennessee campus for a closer look at the company’s North American manufacturing strategy, including the Phase Two expansion that is expected to add another 4.5 million to 5 million consumer units of annual capacity. The plant first began domestic production in 2017 with about 4.5 million units of annual capacity, and Hankook is also beginning medium commercial tire production at the site, with plans to reach up to 1 million medium truck units. “I think we’re all aware of what’s going on in the market with tariffs. A lot of product is coming in from all over the world, and we feel it’s very important to have domestic production with an American-made product," said Rob Williams, President and CEO of Hankook Tire North America. "It’s good from a supply chain standpoint. It’s also very important for dealers to be able to get product just in time.” Inside the facility, automation plays a major role, from AI-driven forklifts to highly technical equipment operated from control panels. Hankook also benefits from sister companies that help build the equipment and technology used in its tire production process. “Today, with any production, automation is very important. Innovation is very important. It still has the human element, though," Williams said. "We never want to feel like the technology overshadows the human element. However, today we can employ people who know they can work on state-of-the-art equipment. You’ll see forklifts running around that are all AI-driven. We literally can have one operator operate multiple pieces of equipment because in a lot of cases, they’re really just overseeing the control panel.” The visit also included drive time on several Tennessee-made products, including the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme, Laufenn X Fit AT2, Dynapro XT and DynaPro MT2. Between the expanded plant, warehouse space and proving ground behind the facility, the Hankook Clarksville plant is becoming a major part of how the company plans to grow in North America. www.tirereview.com www.hunter.com

Why Road Gators Usually Aren’t Failed Retreads

Commercial tire retreading still carries a few stubborn myths, and Shaun Uys, Head of Replacement Commercial Tires at Continental Tire, says it's time to clear them up. In this episode of What's Treading, Uys explains why drivers see “road gators” on the highway. He says failed retreads usually do not cause them. He also explains why a properly managed retread process can match a new tire’s performance. Then, he breaks down Continental’s 3G casing approach. This approach gives fleets a stronger platform for multiple retread cycles when they properly maintain tires. Uys also discusses the technology and quality checks behind Continental’s retreading process. He covers casing inspection, buff angles, curing cycles, cushion gum and AI-supported analysis. For tire dealers working with fleets, he explains how retreads can lower tire costs. He also explains how retreads can extend casing value and support a more complete tire program. Uys says when fleets can reuse a casing multiple times, the cost savings can be “really significant.” www.tirereview.com/subscribe

Inside Big O Tires’ Push for Smart, Consistent Growth

At this year’s Big O Tires Convention & Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, Big O leadership and franchisees gathered to discuss the company’s growth, franchise strategy and long-term goals for the dealer network. The event featured more than 60 vendors and brought together franchisees from across Big O’s more than 470 locations. In this episode of What’s Treading, we speak with Big O Tires COO Gary Skidmore about balancing new store growth with same-store sales growth as the franchise network continues expanding. Growth and Franchise Alignment Big O added 14 stores in 2025, a record for the company. But, according to Skidmore, growth only works if franchisees and corporate leadership remain aligned on long-term goals and operational strategy. He explains that Big O’s focus is not simply on opening more locations, but finding franchisees that fit the company’s culture and structure as the network grows.

The Exact Moment to Open a Second Tire Shop

During the K&M Tire Dealer Conference, David Sickels moderates a roundtable with three independent operators answering a critical question dealers face: when to expand a tire shop. The panel features Austin Miller of Tire Star (4 locations), Dan Rhonda of Ronda Auto Centers (2 locations, previously scaled higher), and John Wood of Warren Tire Service Center (15 locations). When to expand a tire shop comes down to three factors: staffing, capacity, and financial readiness. Miller explains that early growth came from opportunity and long hours, but sustainable expansion requires a shop that can operate without the owner. Rhonda highlights how having trusted people in place makes scaling easier, especially in multi-store environments. Wood points to capacity as the trigger – when customers are being pushed out weeks, it’s time to grow. For independent tire dealers evaluating growth, this is a direct look at when to expand a tire shop and what it takes to make it work. Key takeaways for tire dealers: Expand when your shop is consistently at capacity Build leadership before adding a second location Expect some business to shift between stores Location, parking, and supplier proximity matter more than expected Strong systems and vendor relationships improve with scale