Number five and climbing: retreader acquisitions boost Cobre Tire. (tire retreader Fletcher's Cobre Tire and Service ranks fifth in Modern Tire Dealer magazine's top retreaders list)(Cover Story)

A series of acquisitions have boosted Fletcher's Cobre Tire, based in Phoenix, Ariz., into the fifth spot in MTD's top retreaders list (see page 43).

A year ago, the company had three Oliver truck tire retread plants and was not among the top 25 U.S. retreaders. Now Cobre has six Bandag plants, including a radial and bias OTR tire retreading facility.

The purchase of Three B Recapping's Oliver plants in Fontana and Commerce, Calif., last year began what Cobre's Mike Baggett, vice-president, eastern operations, said was a concerted effort to increase the company's position in the truck tire market.

Four months ago, Cobre Tire acquired the Edwards-Warren Tire …