Right To Repair With Roy Littlefield IV, VP of Government Affairs for the Tire Industry Association

Roy Littlefield IV is the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Tire Industry Association. In his role, Roy leads advocacy efforts across state and federal levels to support independent tire and auto repair shops. With deep roots in the industry — his father also served in TIA leadership — Roy has been involved in policy from a young age. He now champions initiatives like the Right to Repair Act, helping protect consumer choice and shop independence nationwide.

In this episode…

The modern vehicle repair landscape is becoming more exclusive, locking out independent repair shops and consumers from essential data. As cloud-based systems and EV technology evolve, traditional tools like OBD2 ports are being phased out, creating barriers to access. How can the industry and lawmakers ensure fair repair rights for everyone?

According to Roy Littlefield IV of the Tire Industry Association, the key lies in mobilizing grassroots support and pushing for bipartisan legislation. Roy explains how right to repair laws, such as those in Maine and Massachusetts, are being held up in court despite overwhelming public support. He also reveals the strategic moves being made to pass a federal Repair Act that would secure nationwide access to vehicle repair data.

On this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge welcomes Roy for a conversation about the right to repair movement, legislative hurdles, and how independent shop owners can take action. Roy shares insights on consumer rights, industry trends, and the importance of grassroots advocacy.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• [02:10] Why Right to Repair is the most urgent issue facing the auto industry
• [03:25] How EVs and new tech give OEMs the upper hand in the repair market
• [05:08] The challenge of cloud-based systems replacing traditional OBD2 ports
• [10:44] Roy Littlefield IV and Mike Edge share personal stories of inflated dealership repair estimates
• [11:33] How VIP Tire and Auto led a Right to Repair victory in Maine
• [12:45] Why automakers claim they "can't comply" with basic consumer access laws
• [15:44] How bipartisan support is building for national legislation
• [16:25] Grassroots advocacy and how shop owners can make an impact

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Roy Littlefield IV on LinkedIn
• Tire Industry Association
• Report a Right to Repair Issue
• Brian Bates on LinkedIn
• EAS Tire and Auto
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn
• Tread Partners

Quotable Moments: 

• “Right to repair is the biggest issue right now facing the industry, and it’s going to hit us like an avalanche.”
• “Consumers should have the right to decide who works on their vehicle — and own that information.”
• “Even something as simple as an oil change is becoming a problem because of data lockouts.”
• “Despite 80% of voters supporting it, one lawsuit can hold up progress for years.”
• “Every person matters — whether you're an intern or a CEO, everyone deserves respect and recognition.”

Action Steps: 

1. Report blocked repair access: Submit your issue via the TIA advocacy page so it can be used in legal and legislative efforts.
2. Contact your lawmakers: Speak to your local, state, and federal representatives about how Right to Repair affects your business.
3. Educate consumers: Let customers know they have a choice — and a right — to get their vehicle serviced outside the dealership.
4. Display QR codes in your shop: Use TIA’s printable posters with QR codes to make it easy for your team to report issues.
5. Support the federal Repair Act: Encourage your trade networks to back bipartisan legislation ensuring nationwide repair access.

Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by Tread Partners. 

At Tread Partners, we provide digital marketing for multi-location tire dealers and auto repair shops. 

By using our strategy, branding, and marketing services, we help shops sell more tires and put more cars in bays.

We’ve helped companies like Action Gator Tire, Colony Tire and Service, and Ulmer’s Auto Care Center bring extreme growth in paid leads, ROI, and searches. 

So, what are you waiting for?

Visit www.treadpartners.com or email [email protected] to learn more.