Goodyear’s May Dealer of the Month, Purcell Tire, Credits Long-Term Relationships for its Success in Selling Tires

AKRON, Ohio, May 7, 2010 — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company recently named Purcell Tire as its Commercial Tire Dealer of the Month for May.

“We feel privileged to be a part of the Goodyear independent dealer distribution group,” said Keith Butcher, executive president of Purcell Tire. “There is no finer group of dealers in the country. To be chosen the Commercial Tire Dealer of the Month is a real honor.”

“The Purcell Tire commercial team takes the long-term relationship approach to selling,” Butcher said in explaining some of the reasons for the company’s success. “Because Goodyear’s products are built to help users, the long-term approach requires that we help the customer find the right products for the application.”

This relationship approach has helped Purcell Tire earn designation as The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Commercial Tire Dealer of the Month for May 2010. Each month, Goodyear honors its top dealers that provide customers outstanding service, while helping them choose from among the Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly tire brands. The Dealer of the Month honor recognizes Purcell Tire for helping customers make full use of Goodyear services, such as fleetHQ, TVTRACK and GTRACS automated retread tracking system.”

Robert M. Purcell opened Purcell Tire’s first location in Washington, Mo., in 1936. He established a second location in Granite City, Ill., in 1951. The business expanded under his son and daughter-in-law, current owners Robert G. (Bob) and Juanita Purcell. Today, with 80 commercial and retail tire locations across the U.S. and six retread plants, Purcell is the third largest independent commercial tire dealership and the largest off-the-road tire retreader in North America.

Purcell Tire primarily services truck fleets for national businesses, such as Penske Corporation’s trucking operations and YRC Worldwide’s Yellow Transportation business. Purcell Tire also retreads tires for commercial and off-highway vehicles, including those used in highway construction and mining operations, and the company has serviced vehicles at every major mining company in North America, including Peabody Energy, Arch Coal, Barrick Gold Corp., Newport Mining Corp. and Goldcorp Inc.

Owner Bob Purcell said he believes a big reason why Purcell Tire is so successful is due in large measure to the training that Goodyear makes available for dealers, and Purcell’s emphasis on quality in the retreading process at its six retreading plants.

“Success in our plants is a balancing act,” he said. “We can continue to become more efficient, but this has to be done while producing high quality products. The efficiencies are gained through better equipment and energy conservation.

“Retreading is a great service to our customers that helps lower their cost per mile and is good for the environment,” Purcell added. “It gives us a clear advantage so that our customers can be supplied with all of their needs from one vendor. Retreading is our life blood and will always be a high priority.”

Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems offers products and services to the trucking industry, including a full range of original equipment and replacement tires and retreads. In addition, the company offers FleetHQ business solutions to fleets of all sizes. This includes the 24/7 fleetHQ Solution Center, national programs, tire management tools, on-line information access and business problem-solving for tomorrow’s trucking fleets. For more information on Goodyear’s commercial tire capabilities, visit the Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems Web site. For more information about Purcell Tire, visit the Purcell Tire Web site.