FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New Tire & Automotive Distribution Warehouse Opens in Illinois

U.S. Tire & Exhaust®, a wholesale distributor of automotive undercar parts and tires, has established its 8th regional distribution center at 7560 N. Croname Road, Niles, IL that will serve the North Chicago region.  In addition to this new warehouse, U.S. Tire & Exhaust®, a division of U.S. Oil Co., Inc., with corporate headquarters in Combined Locks, WI, has regional automotive warehouses in the Fox Valley and Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Cedar Rapids, IA; Glendale Heights and Alsip/Chicago, IL; and St. Louis, MO.

Randy Groh, Director of Marketing, cited increased market penetration in this key area as a primary service objective for the new facility.  “We truly want to position our organization closer to our customers, now and into the future.”

U.S. Tire & Exhaust® has been a distributor of automotive parts and tires since 1958. According to Pat Hietpas, Vice President of Operations, this new location will expand distribution further into Northern Illinois, providing fast, efficient undercar parts and tires delivery service to automotive service dealers.

Kevin Dahl, Regional Operations Manager, who will oversee warehouse operations, and Bob Loftus, on-site Manager, announced that the warehouse would officially open June 1, 2005.

For additional information regarding the new Niles Warehouse or any of U.S. Tire & Exhaust’s other regional warehouse operations, contact Randall Groh, U.S. Tire & Exhaust®, 425 S. Washington St., Combined Locks, WI  54113.  Phone (920) 739-6100 or visit our website at www.uste.com.