Thousands of buyers from the tire and wheel market spent a portion of their 2009 SEMA Show week scanning bar codes from the New Products Showcase and visiting exhibitor booths to identify the next must-have tire and wheel gear for their local markets.

No single element can change the look of a car or truck like a set of tires and wheels.

This custom-built Ford F-150 is not something that can be easily picked up at the dealer lot.

The SEMA Person of the Year award was established in 1969 to honor an individual for outstanding contributions to the industry reaching beyond the person’s normal job functions.

This series of SEMA News stories is based on the idea of using reliable and repeatable methods to ensure business success. In coming issues, we will delve into a range of topics aimed at developing Best Practices through knowledge, motivation and skills.

As the automotive industry continues to adapt to changes in the economy and consumer spending habits, SEMA-member companies are faced with the decision to either race ahead with the new course of the specialty-equipment market or to fall behind with the old status quo.

There were 290 tire exhibitors at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last November, and tire buyers accounted for 9.4% of the total buyers who attended. In fact, their ranks made up the second-largest buyer group at the Show.

Every year, the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) announces its Manufacturer and Person of the Year awards at the SEMA Show.

Land Rover LRX, Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Volkswagen Jetta

While the SEMA Show is a trade-only gathering that is not open to the general public, enthusiasts and consumers are able to get a glimpse of what happens at the annual event thanks to the many editors and reporters who attend.