Global Tire Expo Huge Success: TIA

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) announced that their Global Tire Expo – Powered by TIA (GTE) was a huge success.  GTE, held every November in conjunction with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, enjoyed both a record number of attendees and exhibitors.

There were over 132,000 people who attended the co-located expos with a record breaking 61,000 buyers in attendance signifying the value that GTE and SEMA have for the wholesaler and manufacturing community. Tire Industry Association president Larry Brandt says that “the record attendance in Las Vegas demonstrates that the networking opportunities and educational seminars that TIA stages provide true value to independent tire dealers.”

TIA also conducted a number of political action committee (TirePAC) fundraising activities at their annual membership meeting and welcome reception at The Cosmopolitan Hotel. 

Roy Littlefield, executive vice-president of TIA said that “TirePAC worked hard taking the Silent Auction and PAC Board to the next level and did so this year, selling out all of the PAC Board and doubling the number items sold over last year in the auction.”

Tire Warehouse president Dan Clark won first place at the PAC Board, however, he feels so strongly about TirePAC and its importance to the tire industry, he donated back the full amount of his first place prize of $500.

Randall Groh, chairman of the Tire Industry Association’s Government Affairs Committee says that “Building support in Washington is essential for the tire industry to have the impact to defend the industry and its members’ interests and the generous contributions help us achieve this goal.”