CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (March 2008) - Coker Tire, the world's largest supplier of collector vehicle tires and wheels, announces its acquisition of Phoenix Racing Tires, one of the most trusted names in drag racing. The acquisition spearheads the 2008 launch of Coker Tire's new Performance Brand division.
"Phoenix is one of the country's leading drag racing tire brands. I'm thrilled that we now have the opportunity to take this great line to the next level," says Corky Coker, president of Coker Tire Company. "We've kicked off our 50th Anniversary year by announcing Phoenix's arrival and will soon be rolling out our national distribution plan for Phoenix. Our new performance brand division's marketing plan is exciting!"
The Phoenix racing tire molds were initially created by Firestone more than 40 years ago when the sport of drag racing just started booming across the United States. Today's modern Phoenix brand brings more than 30 new size and compound variations of drag race tires to Coker's product portfolio.
"I've worked with Phoenix Racing Tires for many years and watched this wonderful brand evolve," says Mike Crutchfield, Vice President and General Manager of Performance Brands for Coker Tire. "Now that we're on board with Coker, I have a renewed confidence and excitement about Phoenix's future as a leading drag racing tire company."
Originally marketed as Firestone, Phoenix Drag Racing was launched in the mid-1990's when several executives at Firestone chose to break away and re-launch the specialty drag racing tire brand. The company was created and product was developed using the same foundations of performance, trust and technology that supported Firestone's drag racing division for years. With Coker Tire's support and guidance in 2008, Phoenix Racing Tires has plans to reach new heights of brand awareness, distribution and market share within the performance tire division.
Drag racing enthusiasts may contact Phoenix's Special Race Tire Hotline for more information at (800) 531-0855, as well as visit the Phoenix web site at http://www.phoenixracingtires.com.
Coker Tire Company, Inc. of Chattanooga, Tennessee was founded in 1958 and is the world's largest supplier of collector vehicle tires and wheels with distributors in more than 30 countries. The company offers vintage bias-ply and nostalgia-style radial tires for collector vehicles from the late 1890s through the mid 1980s, including products for collector autos and trucks, hot rods, vintage race-cars and vintage motorcycles. Coker Tire attends over 70 events nationally and also sells drag race tires, vintage-style wheels and rims, Michelin memorabilia, novelty bicycles, and unicycles. Customers can visit www.cokertire.com to view the complete product line, request or download the current 2008 catalog or call (800) 251-6336 to speak live to a collector tire and wheel specialist for information or to place an order.