Sorting Through the Rubble of the Apollo-Cooper Break-up
Dec. 31…twenty-eight days from this writing…will be the one-year anniversary of the epic and tragic Cooper-Apollo Break-up. And even as they began the process of unwinding a $2.5 billion arranged marriage, they continued to profess their love publicly (well, sort of) while their respective legal teams rolled up their sleeves and continued the unseen liquidation
Congress Acts! Prepares to Make Eco-Innovation Nearly Impossible
A seemingly minor legislative move in Congress (wait a minute, something happened in Congress?) could have massive ramifications to the tire industry. HR 4012 – the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 – would force the EPA to find, access, make public and verify independently ALL scientific and technical information connected to any proposed action
Tire Dealers, Auto Shops Participate In Brakes For Breasts Campaign
The SEMA show was an exciting week for me. While the long days and endless walking left my body exhausted and feet aching, I’d be lying if I said I had a terrible time. I got out from behind my desk and got to learn about the industry from both manufacturers and, more importantly, you.
Illegal Tire Problems Plague the U.K.; Was Jac’s Last Act a Bug?
It is often said that we Americans and our British cousins are more alike than we sometimes want to admit. So it is a bit worrisome to read reports in the London Telegraph that more than 2.2 million (that’s MILLION!!!) U.K. cars failed mandatory MoT (Ministry of Transportation) checks due to unsafe or illegal tires.
Restaurants and Amusement Parks, Tires are Everywhere
If you think business is hard today – where you have an established product, established customers, and an established need – try building a business with a little used product that is required by another little used product. This is how we got to the now world-renowned Michelin Star System for grading fine dining restaurants.
Magician or Technician?
Pick a card, any card.” Groans and protests flew like pigeons after bread crumbs. “Geez, Toon, give it a rest! You’re never gonna get that trick right.” Tooner’s nose twitched as he concentrated on the playing cards spread before him. “I got ’er this time, boys, I promise. Just pick one – you’ll be amazed.”
Car Side: Getting Back to Bass(ic)s
Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I braced myself for action. “I think I’ve got it now. I grip the body with my right hand while grabbing the neck with my left.” Padre O’Brien gasped in surprise as I wrestled my quarry into submission, a clear sign that my unique methodology had impressed him. Freshly
To Put This in Your Hands
While scanning a recent TIA email about its government affairs, I was dumbstruck by one statement that smacked me hard: “Currently, about 17% of tires sold are registered.” One-seven-percent, as in 17 out of 100 tires sold are actually registered so that the owners can be quickly and easily notified should there be a safety-related
Tires Go Flat, Car Dealers Get a Boost, and Charitable Dealers Do Good
The headline alarmed me. “Local band Tires ends its journey.” Damn. My band was gone. For all time…or at least until they decide to reunite for a nostalgia tour. Most of that is a joke, but it is true that Des Moines-based indie band Tires has officially broken up “ending their three-year run of bringing
Doing Your Due Diligence
Are you sure about this, Slim?” Digger Dan had to holler to be heard above the noise of his backhoe. He was preparing to dig a new drainage ditch behind my shop. “I think you’re fine,” I shouted back. “According to my calculations, that natural gas line should be 10 feet away. You’ve got plenty
Finally…A Colorful Picture
Thirty years ago when I joined this industry, it was quite enough to know that there were “dozens of tire companies” (when BFGoodrich and Firestone and many others were stand-alone companies) and “25,000 independent tire dealers” in the U.S. That was that and no one questioned what then passed for “market intelligence.” We had little
The Driving Influence
Today’s vehicle sales forecast influences your business tomorrow
