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inTires >> Performance
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Vehicle and Tire Changes Caused by CAFE Standards
 By Joe Severns August 9, 2010 Thirty-five years ago, the U.S. gov­­ernment enacted the Cor­p­orate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to improve the a... read more
Tire-Destroying Drifters Raise Tire Hungry Crowds - and Opportunities
 By Joe Severns July 12, 2010 Clutch drops. Trail braking. Line. Feint. Tansou (speed attack) and Tsuiso (chase attack). Oversteer.   Oh, and tire smoke.... read more
Digital Revolution Makes Information Available Anytime, Anywhere
 By Joe Severns June 17, 2010 About two years ago, I made the big leap into the 21st century new media by buying an iPod.  At the time, I was driving about 1,000 miles per week – and I thought the novelty of listening to my album collection without havin... read more
'Performance' Tires Are Everywhere: Do They Still Stand Out?
 By Joe Severns May 17, 2010 What is performance? A recent commercial by stalwart automaker Mercedes-Benz asks the question – and then sets about answering it as completely as 30 seconds of prime-time television can.   Sparing their hyperbole, arguably... read more
Reassuring and Serving Customers Suffering From Sticker Shock
 By Joe Severns April 14, 2010 There was never a doubt in my mind that I would own a BMW one day. Call it fate, call it kismet, karma…whatever. I’ve had my eye ... read more
Taking Stock: Be Ready with Performance Upgrade Options for 2010
 By Scott Blair December 15, 2009 Many times over the years, the automotive aftermarket has been given a platform that has largely contributed to a $35+ billion industry. This year, that car was the 2010 Camaro. ... read more
Playing it Smart: Companies Adapt Wheel Trends in a Recovering Economy
 By Scott Blair November 23, 2009 The best thing about being at the bottom is that there is only one way to go: Up. 2009 has been a dismal year for the aftermarket industry, especially custom wheels. Manufacturers and distributors felt the downturn in 2008 and held off... read more
R-Compound Tires Bring Dealers Recognition, Loyalty
 By Denise Koeth October 14, 2009 Imagine a niche tire segment with relatively low profit margins, fewer consumers and a low-volume product line. At first glance, this may not seem like something a sane tire dealer would want to consider, especially in today’s economy. ... read more
Top Shop Honorees Share More Keys to Success
 By Scott Blair October 14, 2009 I have written this column for several years now, many times discussing various aspects of performance, whether it is tires, wheels or suspensions. And I’ve tried to focus on tangible items we can touch and measure, one against another, to der... read more
Prep Work: How Dealers Can Get a Jump on ESC Requirements
 By Scott Blair August 15, 2009 Overall traffic fatalities reported in 2008 hit their lowest level since 1961. The U.S. Department of Transportation released this statement in July. They went on to say, “that fatalities in the first three months of 2009 con... read more
Track-Inspired: Racing Programs Help Dealers Make Real-World Recommendations
 By Scott Blair August 15, 2009 How many of us have heard how products designed for the street were developed on a race track? Many of the claims such as this are not much more than marketing hype. For the tire industry though, we can truly say that our products t... read more
Shifting Sizes: Keeping Up is Key as OEMs Roll Out New Models
 By Scott Blair July 15, 2009 Earlier this year, we spoke to a number of tire and wheel manufacturers to find out where the size trend is heading. What we found was while aftermarket wheel manufacturers are moving to smaller diameter wheels, OEMs are still pushing tire manufactur... read more
Buildin' It Up - Part 2: Putting the Finishing Touches on a True Original
 By Scott Blair June 15, 2009 Last month, we began to walk through the process of putting a true original back on the street with custom wheels and new tires. To pick up where we left off in May, Larry, the owner of the 1935 Chevy 3-Window coupe, had chosen BFGo... read more
Buildin' It Up - Part 1: Putting a True Original Back on the Street Takes a Studied Approach
 By Scott Blair May 14, 2009 Passion [pash-uh n] – noun. Any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. That’s the definition of passion. In our world of tires and wheels, are you passionate about cars and trucks, or are they just utilitarian to you?... read more
Forward Thinking: New Models Mean New Customization Options
 By Scott Blair April 14, 2009 Over the last few months, we discussed what industry experts and retailers are predicting for the near future. In light of those views, this month we’ll focus on several new vehicles that are heading our way. As much as I love... read more
Where to Next?: Part III: Performance Trends at the Dealer Level
 By Scott Blair March 13, 2009 The last two months have provided much insight into the UHP tires being produced and the subtle swing toward lightweight forged wheels at the OE level. Now, at the conclusion of our three-part series on the future of the UHP tire and custom wheel ... read more
Where to Next?: Part II: Wheel Trends and Forecasts
 By Scott Blair February 12, 2009 Last month, we started a three-part series on the future of the tire and wheel industry. Tire manufacturers told us UHP demand is still rising and will continue to outpace other segments for the foreseeable future. The quest is now for the u... read more
Where to Next?: Tire Trends and TPMS Forecasts for Changing Times
 By Scott Blair January 13, 2009 Where do we go from here? To find out, we begin a three-part series to see where tire and wheel manufacturers, along with retail dealers, believe the performance market is heading. First up: tires. We have all questioned the prolife... read more
Looking Ahead: SEMA Show Trends Point to Vehicle Customization Future
 By Scott Blair December 15, 2008 Last month, we ended the article with the prediction of a growing number of color and designs that allow for several years of production. Well, we hit it on the head. I haven’t seen that many color variations at the SEMA Show since the Tune... read more
Smaller Demand: With Vehicle Downsizing, Large Wheels Are Tough to Sell
 By Scott Blair October 31, 2008 A few years ago, you could buy a 20-inch chrome-plated wheel from China for $125. Now that the Chinese government has reduced or removed subsidies to those wheel manufacturers and the U.S. dollar has lost value, those days are about gone. ... read more
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Top Sales Strategies to Win Over Customers
Sales and customer service go hand in hand. Without a qualified, trained and professional sales staff, you run the risk of customers walking away from your dealership feeling less than satisfied. read more