Commentary Archives - Page 34 of 43 - Tire Review Magazine
What is ‘Green’?: We May Be Seeing Red Without a Clear Enviro-Definition

For the tire industry, its products and services, and its face to the eco-consuming public, exactly what is “green”? This is a very valid question for the enviro-age. Is it oil-free tires or those substituting citrus oil? Tires made from recycled crumb rubber? Dandelions or cornstarch? What about retreading or making better use of existing

(Between the Lines): Intercepted Holiday Letter From a Tire Dealer’s Wife

We all get them. The Holiday Update Letter from friends or relatives. They are usually over-the-top cheery, even for the holiday season, and provide interesting tidbits about how life is treating those closest to you, especially helpful if they live far away. Sometimes, though, a more honest assessment comes from reading between the lines, such

Warranty Woes

Dear Jim, Recently, I called nine different car dealers in the Boston area, acting as a retail customer with a tire problem. I was told by everyone of them that for any warranty issues they must go back to a tire dealer. If they are acting like tire dealers on the "sell" side, why not

Article Important for Fleets

Dear Editor (Hi Jim), I just finished reading Asa Sharp’s brilliant "Side Benefits" article about the many benefits and importance of TPMS. It should be required reading by every trucking fleet –whether it is a fleet of one or 10,000 – and by everyone in the new tire and retreading industries. Not only does Asa’s

Smelling the Roses: Top Shop Marks the Best, But There Are Plenty of Great Dealers Out There

I guess the most annoying thing about being sick is that it is just so damn annoying. Especially when you don’t feel all that sick. A recent 12-rounder with pneumonia – won on the judge’s card, by the way – had me sequestered in the local hospital for seven days. Felt more like a lifetime,

Letter from Harvey

Jamie Kitman’s article, “MG’s Old Motto: ‘Safety Fast.’ MG’s New Motto: ‘Get Me to Safety, Fast,’” in the October issue of Automobile contained a very derogatory and unfair mention about retreaded tires. He wrote,  "…with not so much as your Calvins to come between you and the shredded retread that a truck could at any

SEMA Writes

Dear Jim, I just had the opportunity to read your column “Show Me The Value” in this month’s Tire Review (July 2008). Your comments are increasingly important in this challenging economic era and changing business landscape. The notion that we need to “wait out this storm” in anticipation of better times is a dangerous one. The trade

Safety Dance: Tiremaker Comes at Tread Depth Debate from Odd Angle

Michelin broke the tiremaker cone-of-silence in the debate over changing – or not changing, in this case – our scatter-shot tread depth limit regs. At a media briefing earlier this year, Michelin said change is not necessary, there’s no need for a national mandate, and, even then, lack of enforcement would render such regs moot.

Letters From the Field

I, too, was actually stunned by the poor handling of this problem (First Off, June 2008). When the ABC story aired I thought, “Where in the hell did they find this guy to protect our image.” He kept blaming England and Europe. I was actually embarrassed to be a tire dealer after that report.  

No Nitro Fan Here

Come on Mr. Smith. Regarding nitrogen usage in automotive tires, the undisputed, scientifically proven advantages of nitrogen are so minuscule that there is no real advantage for the consumer. This is just another example of a "wallet flush." Or better worded, it is another opportunity to rip off the consumer. How long have we been

Against Anti-Dumping

I Read your Fuzzy Fix (TR, March 2008) piece, and how it hits home with me and my particular situation. I own and operate a small, five-employee tire business in eastern Kentucky. The business caters solely to the underground coal mining industry in the region. Over the last 30 years I have seen all the

Show Me ‘Value’: Affinia Shift on Trade Shows May Herald Broader Search for Real Returns

Curious if the economy, ever-rising fuel costs and tough business conditions will impact the upcoming Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week – the combined SEMA and AAPEX shows in Las Vegas? The answer is ‘Yes.’ Sort of. While ‘official’ figures are hard to come by, there was plenty of physical evidence that attendance at last year’s AAIW