"There's no benchmark of, 'Hey, this is what I could potentially get out of it.' And if there's no benchmark, there's nothing to improve against."

"Every job site that we walk into is a case study, and we look at the value that we bring in the cost savings."

"We can change the fortune of a fleet just by understanding what's going on with their tires and looking at the tires that they want to throw away."

"Just because it has more tread does not necessarily correlate to longer hours of operation."

"Near miss reporting is something that needs to happen more and more. People come in at the end of a shift and say, 'Here's the three things that almost went wrong.' In mining, that's seen as really positive because safety is number one. Otherwise, there is no production."

"Success in trucking isn't just about buying the right truck—it's about making informed decisions that reduce operating costs over the long term. Jason Fennell explains why application-specific equipment, proper tire specifications, and strong customer partnerships matter far more than chasing the lowest price, while sharing his outlook on where the trucking industry is headed in 2026 and beyond."

“The readings you see on the screen are only as accurate as the mechanic who mounted the equipment. If you don’t verify it, you can destroy a brand-new set of tires.”

“Our job is not dangerous. There are a lot of risks — and you need to learn how to manage them. Once you manage the risks, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“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.