Despite the new competition of
selling discount tires direct, The independent tire dealers still
dominate the market, accounting for 69 percent of the replacement
passenger market. But mass merchandisers have captured 17 percent
of the market and manufacturer outlets claim 10 percent. Online
tire sales make up about 4 percent.
"The challenge is that competition from the
Internet and national retailers has increased. Tires are getting
more expensive. Even though they're lasting longer and the number
of units aren't climbing as fast as dollar sales, everyone wants
a share of that," said Skip Potter, executive director of the
Chesapeake Automotive Business Association, which represents locally
owned tire service centers in Maryland, the District and Delaware.
I believe a shift in the market is happening as
we speak. Discount tire centers make it cheaper, easier, and more
convenient to buy tires than traditional independent stores. Growth
of discount tire stores are strong. Nowadays there's no reason why
we shouldn't buy tires direct. |