At this year’s Gathering of the Green, Todd Friedrich of Chanhassen, Minn., brought his new old-style tires. The tires he recreated were the old style 12-38 and he has the 10-36, 11-36, 13-26 and 10-40 under development.

“No one had the 45-degree angle of the tire tread,” Todd said of the 12-38. “I added the 45-degree tread and the diamonds on the sidewalls. I also added the old-style numbers.”

Todd is a young man with both a mechanical design engineering and an industrial technology degree, and he used them to recreate the tires he could not find. “I restore tractors and I have about 40 of them,” he shared. “I couldn’t find exactly the tire or anything close, so I made them.”

Todd said the old numbers are more like those on the old-time tires. “This makes it more like the vintage tractors. I started doing this in 2007 but didn’t have anything in hand until 2008,” he explained.

To recreate the vintage tires, Todd had to start from the beginning. “I redesigned the mold,” he said. “I put more engineering into it and made a few minor changes.”

To create the mold, Todd put his idea into a CAD drawing, then he had to come up with the investment for the mold. Although he would have liked to manufacture the tires in the United States, he said, “The volume of tires is so low that most American companies say it is too small.”

Another tire type that Todd makes is the old-style lawn and garden 400.3, 3-rib fronts, with notches on the side: “I am coming up with the old-style fronts for John Deere Lawn tractors and Cub Cadets, with knobs on the side. Then I am also making the 600-12 lug tire for the rear tires.”

Vintage tires are not Todd’s only niche; he also carries a wide variety of tractors of all makes and models. “I sell 40 percent to the farm tractor antique collectors and 60 percent for dealer distribution,” he said.

He also works with Hunter Taylor Supply Co., an international sourcing business that offers steel, aluminum, granite, marble and other materials. “I also help companies and sell granite countertops. Currently I am installing them in hotels all over. I also supply homes around the Minnesota area, and I just got named the exclusive vendor for a national hotel chain.”

Right out of high school, Todd worked as an investigator for a law firm and decided he wanted to move into his own business, and pursued the education to allow him to do this. After several years of working in the corporate world as a manager in manufacturing, he decided to make the jump into his own businesses.

Married with three children, Todd is a family man who he says is, “living the American dream.” He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children – Taylor, 7, Hunter, 4, and Griffin, 10 months. Todd and Jennifer have been married for 13 years and he said, “She deserves a lot of credit for everything.”

To learn more about Todd’s business, check him out at www.friedrichtire.com where he writes: “Whether you need ATV tires or trailer tires, truck tires, tractor tires, lawn equipment tires or golf cart tires, Friedrich Tire is dedicated to providing quality service, brand name tires and value-added services.

“Friedrich Tire can recommend the right tread for the job when you need forklift tires, backhoe tires and skid steer tires.”

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.