National Press Release

Tire Kingdom, NTB, Merchant's Tire, & Big O Tires

JUNO BEACH, Fla., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- TBC Retail Group (TBC) and the Rubber Manufactures Association (RMA) have partnered this holiday season to provide pre-holiday Tire Care Checks to educate the driving public on the importance of tire safety. Tire Kingdom, National Tire and Battery (NTB), Merchant's Tires & Auto Center (Merchant's), and participating Big O Tires retail stores will provide this service, throughout the U.S., from November 20th to 26th and December 15th to December 24th. To locate a store near you, call 800-NEW-TIRE.

"The holidays are a time of hustle and bustle, and a lot of driving," stated Orland Wolford, President and CEO of TBC Retail Group. "And with that in mind, we encourage motorists to get a basic inspection of their vehicles, especially the tires, prior to embarking on their trip." In order to meet the needs of the community, Tire Kingdom, NTB, Merchant's and Big O has set-up FREE Tire Care Checks at all locations. These complimentary inspections are intended to educate motorists on tire safety and proper maintenance. However, if consumers are unable to make it, they should go to their regular mechanic or visit www.betiresmart.org to download a "Be Tire Smart -- Play Your Part" brochure.

Tire safety includes the visual inspection of the tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven wear and under or over inflation as well as the inspection of the valve stem for cracks and defects. Motorists are also encouraged to feel for vibrations when driving. Basic tire maintenance includes: timely rotation, balancing and alignments.

Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, Tire Kingdom, Inc. is one of the nation's largest independent retailers in the tire and automotive services industry. As part of the TBC Retail Group they operate more than 700 company owned stores under the brands: Tire Kingdom, NTB - National Tire and Battery, and Merchant's Tire and Auto Centers. Additionally, the TBC Retail group includes 550 franchised Big O Tires retailers.

    Media Contact:  Patrice Kelty-Webster
                    561-383-3000x 2527
                    561-420-3052

SOURCE TBC Retail Group