TBC Announces Addition to Senior Management Team

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Dec. 1, 2004 -- TBC Corporation , one of the nation's leading marketers of automotive replacement tires, today announced the appointment of Erik R. Olsen to the newly created position of Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

Mr. Olsen, 41, will be responsible for the development of all of the Company's proprietary brands with an immediate focus on the retail segment brands including Big O, Tire Kingdom, Merchants and NTB. He will work closely with TBC's Marketing and Advertising groups and will report directly to Larry Day, TBC's President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Olsen joins TBC from Michelin where he served in a series of senior level Marketing and Sales positions, most recently as Vice President of Sales for Michelin's North America Passenger and Light Truck Division. Prior to joining Michelin in 1997, he held marketing and sales positions with Ralston Foods, The Clorox Company and Proctor and Gamble. Mr. Olsen received his B.A. in 1985 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"We are delighted to welcome Erik to TBC," commented Larry Day. "With a strong background in consumer products marketing, Erik will be a valuable addition to our management team as we establish our retail chains as destination brands for tires and service."

About TBC: TBC Corporation is one of the nation's largest marketers of automotive replacement tires through a multi-channel strategy. The Company's retail operations include company-operated retail centers under the "Tire Kingdom," "Merchant's Tire & Auto Centers" and "National Tire & Battery" brands and franchised retail tire stores under the "Big O Tires" brand. TBC markets on a wholesale basis to regional tire chains and distributors serving independent tire dealers throughout the United States and in Canada and Mexico. The Company's proprietary brands of tires have a longstanding reputation for quality, safety and value.