“Statistically, you can operate unsafely your entire life and still survive unscathed. But if something does go wrong, it’s catastrophic. It’s loss of limb. It’s loss of life. That’s why we don’t roll the dice. We set our own standards, we publish them, and we live by them every single day.”

"Pay attention. Learn your product. If you know what you're selling and are passionate about it, that passion comes through, builds trust with your customers, and benefits you tremendously. That advice still holds true today." — Steve Fossum

“A well-maintained value-priced tire will outperform a poorly maintained premium tire every day. Whether it’s a Goodyear, Firestone, Michelin, or Double Coin, maintenance is your best investment.” – Joseph Pehanick

“The only thing we know for certain when we start talking about yield and low-pressure tires is that low-pressure tires increase yield. How much? I’m not going to sit here and tell you 1 to 50%, but it increases yield.” – James Crouch

“LSW wasn’t created as a marketing idea. It was built in a factory by people who wanted to solve real problems in the field. When you shorten the sidewall, you change how the tire behaves. You eliminate power hop. You eliminate road lope. You gain traction, reduce compaction, and unlock performance that used to require tracks, without the cost, the maintenance, or the horsepower loss that comes with them.”

— Scott Sloan, Global Ag & LSW Product Manager, Titan / Goodyear Farm Tires

“Rubber tracks aren’t just another part on a machine. They are a performance tool that helps entire industries operate better. From improving traction and reducing soil compaction to increasing productivity and efficiency, tracks have become essential for modern agriculture and construction. But they only deliver that value when they’re selected correctly, maintained properly, and engineered to match today’s more powerful equipment.”

— Max Bitner, Vice President of Operations, Rubber Track Solutions

“We’re talking about $15,000 tires on loaders — sometimes $40,000 per set — and yet, across the industry, cost-per-hour data is still hard to find. The truth is, it varies dramatically based on the operator, the surface, and the maintenance. A solid tire might last 10,000 hours or 20,000 hours — but without tracking, no one really knows. That’s why data collection is king.”

Foam filling is so expensive, yet telehandler tires are one of the most commoditized products out there. It’s like throwing a 502 in a Civic—it doesn’t have the structure to support the investment. If you’re going to lock in that cost, wouldn’t you want the best possible tire?

“Everyone’s talking about tariffs, but it’s not as simple as a 30% tariff equals a 30% price increase. Every layer — from factories overseas to distributors and retailers — absorbs a bit of the hit. What’s interesting now is how the big players are adapting. Goodyear’s pulling back its second- and third-tier brands, Bridgestone and Michelin are doubling down on top-tier innovation, and even mining tires are evolving fast. It’s a fascinating time — chaotic, yes — but this kind of shake-up is where the next big leaps in tire technology happen.”

“You’d think garbage trucks all run the same way — pick up, dump, repeat. But it’s a whole different beast,” says ROI Rob. “These fleets scrub rubber off before tires even get a chance to wear out. Fuel economy isn’t the priority — it’s about surviving the curbs, the routes, and the landfill grind.”

Host Joseph Bahanic and Rob break down why retreading dominates the waste industry, why electric trucks aren’t quite ready for the route, and how tire strategy plays a massive role in keeping fleets efficient, safe, and sustainable.

When engineer-turned-salesman Brian Boucher first stepped into the tire world, he thought he was trading complexity for simplicity — but he quickly found the opposite. In this episode of Around the Bead, Brian shares how his background in aerospace and problem-solving shaped his unexpected journey into commercial tires. From the hidden tech gaps in fleet management to the surprising depth behind something as ordinary as a tire, this conversation reveals just how innovative, challenging, and people-driven the industry really is.

In this episode, Joe discusses the evolving role of data in mining operations with Jesse Nunes and Mark. They explore the importance of data collection, tire inspection techniques, and the challenges faced in the mining industry.

This episode of “Around the Bead” offers a comprehensive look into the role of tire data and analytics in fleet management. By leveraging technology and dedicated personnel like data technicians, fleets can achieve greater transparency and cost savings in tire wear, fuel efficiency, and maintenance.

Joaquin tells his incredibly powerful story of overcoming adversities. From beating Andre Ward, to prison, the life of a professional boxer, to nearly dying underneath a loader performing tire service.

Phil "PoPoP" Jandrokovic of East Bay Tire gives a world-class tutorial on forklift tires, manufacturing, and the hardest applications for material handling.

In this debut episode, Joseph is joined by Mike Welsh, Strategic Account Manager for East Bay Tire, to kick off a series focused on agricultural tire solutions. Mike dives into the world of flotation tires, the challenges of forecasting tire performance, and the evolving trends in the tire market, including the shift toward multi-purpose tires and the rise of autonomous farming equipment.

In a recent episode of Around the Beat podcast, experts Rob Bulldock and Big John shared valuable insights on managing fleets and improving tire performance across industries like trucking, mining, and agriculture.

In the debut episode of Around the Bead, hosts Joe and Big John dive into the tire industry’s biggest topics, from the impact of tire pressure on fleet performance to the latest changes in tire distribution and market trends.

Welcome to the pilot episode of Around the Bead, the podcast dedicated to tire talk across trucking, mining, agriculture, and beyond.