How Do You Stack Up?: Now You’ll Know – New Feature Provides Timely, Real-World Retail Sales Data
“So, what do you hear out there?” If you merely read the words, this question makes no sense whatsoever. What you “hear out there” could be the blood-curdling screams of hungry coyotes or your spouse pointing out the error of your ways (if the latter is the case, the coyotes may be more pleasant). But
Head Scratchin’ Time: With Winter Behind Us, Here’s a Few Items to Start Your Spring
Last year, I threw you a curve with the odd tale of the shape-shifting tire. There were certainly enough clues that it was a Sid Finch job, but to clarify once and for all: It was a fake! April Fools! It’s April again. Time for a foot of spring snow, a holiday break and some
A Challenge for You: Tread Depth Rule Interest Grows, But Dealers Can Lead the Charge
Talk about your groundswell of support! Since my column urging the industry to push for a national tread depth law – 4/32nds deep for cars and 5/32nds for Class 3 and larger trucks – I’ve heard from a couple of state associations, a number of dealers and TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield, all of
Got What It Takes?: New Top Shop Award to Recognize Outstanding Tire Dealer Business
Think your comments and suggestions fall into some black hole here at Tire Review HQ? No, they don’t. A great example can be found on page 24 of this issue: the kickoff of our first Tire Review Top Shop Award. The Top Shop Award concept came by way of a simple reader comment a few
I’ve Got Mail: The Joys of the Internets…or How I Got Rich, Thin, Medicated and Sexy
I won the Australian Lotto. Probably 25 times in the past month, I’ll betcha. And, I’m already wealthy beyond compare, thanks to my winnings from the Spanish National Lottery, the European Lottery and my new best friend, the ex-prince of Nigeria. All I need to do is click my mouse and collect my boodle. How
Stocking Stuffers: Catching Up and Clearing the Desk Before the New Year
As you’d expect, I get a lot of questions about the USW contract talks and the future of North America’s tire manufacturing base. And, as you’d expect, my responses are neutral. Anything else is a pure lose-lose proposition. But I will say this: The USW’s effort to negotiate in the media with Goodyear shows that
Push For Safety: An Open Letter to Tire Dealers and Tire Companies
This letter is addressed to you because, well, if you ever want to get something done, start at the grassroots level. I would have sent this to Congress, but there’s a bunch of new folks there, and they’re busy trying to find the restrooms. I am writing you directly with an important matter: a proactive
The Final Lap: Flag Drops on Tire Competition in Major Race Series
It was a sad, sad day, Oct. 22 was. Mark a big black flag on your calendar. Shed a little tear. When the checkered flag dropped on that day’s Brazilian Grand Prix, it marked the official end of real competition in big-time racing. As of Oct. 23, there is no longer any competition in NASCAR.
It’s What’s Going On: Underestimating Brand Study Bad for Tire Companies – And Dealers
By and large, tire companies are a lot better ‘business partners’ than they were 20-odd years ago when I first broke into this industry. Back in the day, there were some obvious differences between marketers. Some would do anything to sell everything at any time, damn the consequences. Others were a tad more considerate of
Great Googly Moogly: What Are the Hot Tire Search Trends? Just Google It.
Steve Rushin, a columnist for Sports Illustrated, recently explored the wonders of Google’s new Trends service. Rushin put Trends to the test with a series of sports-related terms. He found, for example, that residents of Dublin, Ireland, Google “golf tips” and “Guinness” more than folks anywhere else in the world. Ever wonder what city Googles
Wanted: One Gorilla: Tiremakers Working Toward TPMS Solution, But Standardization Would Help
As a kid, I would regularly tote a sack of vacuum tubes to the local Gray’s Drug Store so my dad could perform search-and-replace repairs on our faithful black-and-white Zenith. If every tube in the bag tested good, it meant dad had to choose between repair or replacement – costly options in the late 1960s.
Gas Bags & Gas Costs: Rolling Resistance Study Lacks Key Answers to Obvious Questions
Government reports always crack me up. Eating too much of something is bad. Talking on your cell phone while driving is bad. Wearing a seat belt is good. For the countless billions spent, these “discoveries” should elicit at least a “Huh, that’s interesting!” before we scarf down another Big Mac while driving without seat belts