Welcome to the latest edition of MTD Hotwire. Today, get all the details on the 25th Autopromotec tradeshow (and MTD is there!), Nexen will supply Mitsubishi, Maine's governor wants to ban ethanol gas and Michelin's strategic dealer list expands.

The next edition of HotWire will be out Thursday. Meanwhile, check out the latest news on www.moderntiredealer.com.

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The 2013 International Biennal Exhibition of Automotive Equipment and Aftermarket Products -- otherwise known as Autopromotec -- is ready to welcome visitors. The trade fair will open its doors in Bologna, Italy, on Wednesday, May 22nd.

Nexen Tire Corp. announced it will supply N’Priz tires to Mitsubishi for the Outlander Sport crossover beginning in May 2013.

Legislation (LD 453) that prohibits a person from selling or offering for sale gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10% by volume has been signed into law by Maine Gov. Paul LePage.

T&W Tire Inc. is all in with Michelin Americas Truck Tires (MATT). T&W, which has 14 locations in Oklahoma and Texas, has become a "strategic dealer" of Michelin and BFGoodrich tires.

Individuals may now register to attend the 2013 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show by visiting www.SEMAShow.com/register.

Snap-on Inc. announced that it has acquired Challenger Lifts Inc. for approximately $38 million in cash.

A volunteer team from Memphis-based Del-Nat Tire Corp. collected 832 used and discarded tires on Saturday, May 11, 2013. The company plans to "transform" the tires into living trees.

The China Manufacturers Alliance LLC (CMA) recently hired two Double Coin regional fleet managers: John Ramaika and Tom Rozuk.

Online registration for the 2013 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is open at www.aapexshow.com/Register. AAPEX 2013 is set for Nov. 5-7 at the Sands Expo Center, Las Vegas.

Dill Air Controls Products LLC and How2Media have completed their recent film shoot on the “World’s Greatest!...” television series. The topic? Tire pressure monitoring systems.

Hankook Tire America Corp. recently was named a 2013 Partner in Transformation by Sears Holdings Corp. President Byeong Jin Lee accepted the award at the 2013 Sears Vendor Summit.

Northwest Tire Factory LLC is truly built from the bottom up in the western United States. The 154 independent dealers who make up the would-be cooperative run the show, and CEO John Kreidel — a non-dealer — wouldn’t have it any other way.

For over a decade, the car dealer channel has been on the rise. Once barely an “also ran,” the channel has steadily increased retail market share in the U.S. from 1% in 1998 to a respectable 7% in 2012. That puts car dealers within closing distance of company-owned stores which stayed at 7.5% share in 2012 and within shouting distance of warehouse clubs that posted 8.5% (from Modern Tire Dealer’s Facts issues).

Gun control may be the hottest topic on all government levels: federal, state and local. The Obama Administration wants to enact legislation that will not only make background checks more rigorous, but also ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

How important are Tire and Lube Express outlets to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.? Not very, if the company's annual report has anything to say -- or not say -- about it.

Rich Kramer has been CEO and president of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. for 12 quarters. He has been chairman for 10. Here is his profitability report card by the numbers.

Sometimes it seems like you can't rationally discuss gun control with anyone. It joins religion and politics as a taboo topic because it brings out the hate in people.