| Let's face it people, the world is changing. | | | | discount tires direct, The independent tire |
| Whether it's the increasing price of fuel, | | | | dealers still dominate the market, accounting |
| the improved performance of cars, or the | | | | for 69 percent of the replacement passenger |
| increasing number of online stores offering | | | | market. But mass merchandisers have captured |
| discount tires direct to the US public. | | | | 17 percent of the market and manufacturer |
| | | | outlets claim 10 percent. Online tire sales |
| Recent reports suggest competition amongst | | | | make up about 4 percent. |
| tire sellers has intensified, with the new | | | | |
| wave of online tire stores gaining ground | | | | "The challenge is that competition from the |
| over the independent dealers (the traditional | | | | Internet and national retailers has |
| market leaders). | | | | increased. Tires are getting more expensive. |
| | | | Even though they're lasting longer and the |
| This intense competition is mainly due to the | | | | number of units aren't climbing as fast as |
| decreasing market, as demand for tires falls. | | | | dollar sales, everyone wants a share of |
| The Rubber Manufacturers Association states | | | | that," said Skip Potter, executive director |
| that: | | | | of the Chesapeake Automotive Business |
| | | | Association, which represents locally owned |
| "...The passenger replacement market will | | | | tire service centers in Maryland, the |
| decrease by approximately 3.2 percent in 2006 | | | | District and Delaware. |
| to nearly 196 million units..." | | | | |
| | | | I believe a shift in the market is happening |
| This decline could be due to modern tires | | | | as we speak. Discount tire centers make it |
| being durable and lasting longer than they | | | | cheaper, easier, and more convenient to buy |
| used to. People are also driving less as a | | | | tires than traditional independent stores. |
| result of increasing gasoline costs. | | | | Growth of discount tire stores are strong. |
| | | | Nowadays there's no reason why we shouldn't |
| Despite the new competition of selling | | | | buy tires direct. |