About us

The Rudnick Legacy: A Century of Industrial Excellence

The story of Forklift Tire Company, Inc. is more than a business history; it is a four-generation journey of adaptation, grit, and family expertise. While the modern corporation was officially chartered on December 21, 2012, our family has been a fixture of the tire industry for exactly 100 years.

1926–1964: The Foundation (Ben’s Era)

The legacy began with Ben Joseph Rudnick. Originally trained as an accountant in Hoboken, New Jersey, Ben moved west and found his calling at the Dotson Tire Company in Los Angeles—the firm famous for the luxury Vogue tire. In 1926, Ben purchased a small house at 2209 South Flower Street, built a warehouse, and launched Ben Rudnick Tire Company.

Ben’s reputation for quality grew quickly. He served as the exclusive West Coast distributor for BFGoodrich for 36 years, operating the first distribution center for the brand on the West Coast. At its height, the downtown location was a powerhouse with 36 employees, a modern showroom, four auto bays, and specialized alignment pits.

1950s–1984: The Pivot (Jerry and Don’s Era)

In the early 1950s, Ben’s sons, Gerald (Jerry) and Donald (Don), joined the trade downtown. While the brothers initially worked together, the business soon expanded to meet the needs of a growing Southern California:

• The SF Valley Expansion: In 1957, Jerry opened a second Ben Rudnick Tire Company location in Van Nuys at Roscoe and Orion. This strategic location flourished as the 405 freeway was constructed nearby, becoming the family's second-largest operation.
• The Industrial Architect: Don Rudnick, a Navy veteran who served right out of high school, was instrumental in the company’s shift toward industrial tires. A methodical man who wore a blue jacket and tie every day, Don spent his time walking the industrial blocks of Los Angeles. He kept meticulous records and built the extensive mailing lists that would eventually pivot the company away from retail toward the forklift market.

Following Ben’s passing in 1964, the brothers consolidated their efforts at the Flower Street headquarters. Using an old tire press—originally used for tank tires during WWII—they began specializing in forklift tires to meet the needs of a changing economy.

1975–Present: Specialization & The Digital Frontier

Tom Rudnick entered the family business in the early 1970s, working alongside Jerry and Don. By 1975, as the downtown Flower Street location closed, Tom helped transition the business to be exclusively industrial. Tom eventually founded Solid Tire Company and Rudnick Industrial Tire Company, moving operations to Sun Valley and later Newhall.

Tom was the visionary who brought the family legacy into the 21st century. Recognizing the power of the internet early on, he launched one of the industry's first eBay stores, proving that a decades-old tradition could thrive in a national, digital market.

The Fourth Generation: Today and Beyond

The fourth generation—Troy and Jason (Jay)—leads the company today. Troy merged his background in web management with his father’s deep technical knowledge to launch ForkliftTire.com in 2011, leading to the incorporation of the modern company in 2013. Meanwhile, Jay brought “ground floor” expertise to the team, having mastered the technical aspects of tire pressing, regrooving, and flatproofing as a teenager and into his 20s.

“In the 1920s, Great-Grandfather Ben was busy replacing solid tires with pneumatic ones for automobiles. Today, we have come full circle, replacing pneumatic tires with the superior durability of solid tires for forklifts.”
— Troy Rudnick, Fourth Generation