A Georgia tire dealer who sued Cheng Shin Rubber USA Inc. for alleged price discrimination, breach of contract and fraud has settled with the tire company. Joey Roland, owner of Jasper-based Discount Tire and Parts Inc., had filed a $5 million suit against Cheng Shin in 2002. He claimed the company had promised him sole distribution rights for its Maxxis brand in northern Georgia, then awarded those rights in a written contract to Tri-State Tire of Doraville, Ga. The lawsuit also alleged Cheng Shin had discounted prices to Tri-State and other large distributors but not to Discount Tire. In so doing, Mr. Roland charged that Cheng Shin had violated the Robinson-Patman Act, a federal statute that sets rules on pricing for different purchasers of the same commodity. Terms of the settlement, signed Feb. 11, were undisclosed, though Mr. Roland said the matter ``was settled to the satisfaction of both parties.''