Harlan Wilson sells tractor tires… lots of tractor tires. When
he decided to offer original, old-style 45-degree tires, he wanted
them manufactured in the U.S.A. This project took a detour
through China before he could reach his goal. This was not
what he wanted to do, but, as we all know, few trips can be
made in a straight line. The journey for collectors to finally
have 45-degree tires starts in a chicken house…
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Harlan (in center, with hands on wheels)
at Two-Cylinder Expo XIX in Waterloo, Iowa, last year. |
During high school, Harlan helped his dad sell car tires out
of a chicken house in Morgan, Ohio. They provided no service,
but by being honest and passing on their savings, they
were successful. Harlan also ran a Penzoil
Service Station for his dad. His dad eventually
sold the station. Having graduated
from high school in 1978 and needing to
make a living, Harlan bought an Ashland
Oil station in McConnellsville, Ohio. In
1982 he sold the station, moved to
Mansfield, and ran a dozer. For extra
money he sold all kind of tires, except
bicycle tires, out of his garage on
evenings and weekends.
In 1985 Harlan decided to go full time
in the tire business. He moved to
Marengo, Ohio. He bought a house for
$600 and moved it onto five acres. Times
were tough in the beginning. To help
support his wife, Pam, and their three
children, Harlan would occasionally do dozer work. His first two years were the hardest, for he had to
earn people’s trust. By keeping his word and shooting straight,
he built a trustworthy reputation. Then his tire business took
off in a different direction.
In 1987, he attended his first tractor and engine show in
Portland, Indiana. His reaction was, “Wow, all these |
In 1987, he attended his first tractor and engine show in
Portland, Indiana. His reaction was, “Wow, all these collectors
must need tires for all of these tractors!” Harlan felt there was
room for him in the tractor tire business. Being straight and
honest had worked selling car and truck tires, so he felt these
values would also appeal to tractor collectors. Harlan decided
to enter the tractor tire business, pass on his savings, not
advertise, and keep his word. As they say, “The rest is history.”
In the 1990s, Harlan was attending 30 to 40 shows in 38
states. Sixty percent of his business was and is tractor tires for
collectors. At some shows he would sell the 500 to 600 tires
he was able to bring with him. Soon his phone started ringing
with calls from all over the United States. Once he drove to
Texas and mounted 236 tires for a single collector!
In 1995, Harlan started advertising to draw business from
areas where he had no physical exposure. The phone rang
even more with tire requests. Much to his surprise, he started
doing business internationally.
Eventually, finding old-style tires became very difficult.
Harlan started day dreaming about buying molds or having
them built to make the old-style, correct 45-degree tread tire,
for tractors made in the 1930s and 1940s. Not only correct, but
the same quality as in that era. The tires made at that time did
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At Expo XIX with a new U.S.A.-made 45-degree tire. |
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