Fleets to Tire Dealers: Give Me Super Savings
He doesn’t like to talk about his experiences with super wide tires very much. “Gives me a competitive advantage over my competition,” he says. But Jimmy Ray, maintenance manager for Mesilla Valley Transportation in New Mexico, is one of a growing band of fleet converts. The 600 tractors and 1,500 trailers he oversees used to
Tires and Towing: Before Your Customers Hitch Up, Check Weights, Load Capacities
Are your customers trailering boats, cars, horses or campers this season? They are? Well, are they checking the lug nuts on their trailers on a regular basis? Do they know how much air pressure their towing vehicle tires need? The most likely answer: an emphatic “No.” You are the one these people should be talking
Biz Smarts Have No Gender
Women the weaker sex? Bite your tongue. Whether you’re male or female, to be successful in the retail or wholesale tire industry, you need business smarts, the ability to overcome challenges, and, above all, brass knuckles. An interesting combination of softness, intelligence and fiery spunk, women tire dealers are roaring. Once an oddity in a
A ‘Direct’ Mandate
Since last year, the writers of the rules have been working overtime at what might be D.C.’s most harried agency, NHTSA. It started in August 2003, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit tossed out NHTSA’s call for indirect tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) in its final rulemaking on the subject.
Ready for TPMS?: Final Rulemaking Will Happen Soon, and it Pays to Be Ready
Before the end of the decade, every vehicle you work on will be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Right now, every OEM in Detroit is putting a TPMS on at least one car line, and import models will also be suitably equipped. As much as the tire industry really didn’t like NHTSA’s
Five Ways to Slash Insurance Costs
Take control of rising premiums. Learn from those who’ve done it. These days, Bob Malerba, owner of Malerba’s Silver City Tire Co., is feeling a lot better about the cost of his business insurance. Just 18 months ago, Malerba was at his wits end as he helplessly watched his insurance rates skyrocket. Malerba knew he
Loads & Inflations
s. Fortunately, the gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and the gross vehicle weight rating for the entire vehicle (GVWR) appear on the vehicle placard. A quick aside: It is important that the cold inflation pressure for a motorhome tire never exceeds the maximum inflation pressure branded on the tire sidewall and/or the maximum load or
Leave Nothing to Chance
Buying a Business? Facts, Not Fortune, Will Keep You From Behind the 8-Ball Why do our brains work differently when we read the biz opps section of the paper? Why do we say things like: "I’m tired of selling tires, I think I’ll open a frozen custard stand?" If you already own a fast-food franchise
People Can Make or Break You: Building and Keeping a Winning Tire Team
Surrounding yourself with good people is the dream of every manager. From the President of the United States to the store manager at your local Subway, having good people is not a new idea. But here’s the rub. How do you keep them happy? Nearly 70% of tire dealers questioned by Tire Review say they’re
Peace and Quiet
. Tire lugs are dead giveaways. Even someone with trifocals can see the difference. You’ve also become pretty good at explaining tread life differences between tires by using the UTQG. Or at least using treadwear warranties. But what do you say to a valued customer who is complaining about noise? "I have a noise in
Rotational Education
Unraveling the mysteries of tire rotation takes a bit of doing. Just about all of us are nonchalant about rotating tires. We advertise free rotations for life if you buy tires from us. We unbolt ‘em, rotate ’em and rebolt ’em. From a marketing point-of-view, that’s a good idea. Just be certain you don’t sell
The Physics of Force
Without the braking force generated by tires, vehicles can’t stop. Well, actually they can, but it’s hell on wheels – and oil pans. Without cornering forces generated by the tire, a vehicle can’t handle. Well, actually it can if you consider a guardrail as part of a steering system. Practically speaking, without the essential physical