Welcome to the latest edition of CTD Online, Modern Tire Dealer's e-newsletter written exclusively for the commercial tire market.

Today learn all about BKT's new U.S. President, a Yokohama truck tire plant will rise in Mississippi and Florida's Governor is considering a bill to ban ethanol gas.

You will receive the next edition of CTD Online two weeks from today. Meanwhile, for continual commercial tire news and updates, stay tuned to www.moderntiredealer.com.

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Balkrishna Industires Ltd. (BKT) has announced that it has completed the restructuring of its U.S. operations with the appointment of a new President – BKT Tires USA Inc., Carl Casalbore.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed legislation that allows Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. to build a commercial tire plant in West Point, Miss.

The Florida Senate has approved legislation to repeal the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol by a 33–1 vote, according to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

Kumho Tire Co. Ltd. posted net income of 130.6 billion won on net sales of more than 4 trillion won for its fiscal 2012 ended Dec. 31, 2012. That compares to a net loss of 26.8 billion won on sales of 3.9 trillion won for fiscal 2011.

Royal Tire Inc., a St. Cloud, Minn.-based provider of tire and related services to commercial and retail customers, has opened a new commercial service location in western North Dakota.

Trelleborg Wheel Systems Americas Inc., the U.S. division of Trelleborg Wheel Systems SpA, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Mexican tire distributor Neumáticos Muevetierra to market Trelleborg ag and forestry tires in the country.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC received a rebate worth more than $350,000 for the green initiatives implemented at its La Vergne, Tenn., tire manufacturing plant.

Do you have a gun control policy at your tire dealership? If you don't, perhaps you should think about it.

Titan International Inc. recorded net income of $19.5 million on net sales of $578.4 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. That compares to income of $35.4 million on sales of $463.1 million for the same period in fiscal 2012.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. reported net income of $26 million on net sales of $4.9 billion for its first quarter ended March 31, 2013. That compares to a net loss of $11 million on sales of $5.5 billion for the same period last year.

Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. recorded consolidated sales of 1.68 trillion won for the first quarter of 2013. That compares to sales of 1.71 trillion won for the same period last year.

The Off-the-Road (OTR) Tire Conference, hosted annually by the Tire Industry Association (TIA), is the tire industry’s largest event for dealers, retreaders, manufacturers and suppliers dedicated to the construction and earthmoving markets. For the 58th conference, representatives from 33 states and 18 countries came together at the Gran Melia Golf Resort and Spa in Puerto Rico to share ideas and learn more about the OTR tire industry.

The Commercial Specialty Tire business unit of Continental Tire the Americas LLC is launching two brands of remolded industrial tires for sale in North America. “In terms of cost, these lines are overall less expensive than a new industrial tire,” says Gary Sass, Continental’s market manager for industrial tires in the United States.

In 2011, domestic retreaders produced 7% more truck tire retreads than they did in 2010. Production fell in 2012 to 14.8 million truck tire retreads, 3.2% less than the prior year.