Do Customers Ask About Speed and Load Ratings at Your Shop?

Driving on tires with improper load range can increase fuel consumption, reduce vehicle stability and cause tires to wear out prematurely. Getting it wrong can place your customers in danger, especially if the weight of the vehicle’s load exceeds the tires’ carrying capacity when inflated to proper pressure.

When we asked tire dealers how often consumers ask them about load index and speed ratings when buying tires, 11% of dealers said that consumers “never ask” about it, 50% of dealers surveyed said that “10% or less” of consumers ask about it, while 39% of dealers say consumers ask about the load or speed rating on a tire in “10%-50%” of customer interactions. With so few consumers concerned or aware of the importance of proper load index, be sure to have those conversations as part of your recommendations at the counter.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."