Still Adapting: Familiarity Doesn’t Make TPMS Service Flawless
As the global economy continues to affect businesses and industries, the tire industry continues to have its issues – albeit fewer of them – with tire pressure monitoring systems, especially in the service bay area. Mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, TPMS on OE passenger cars are now into their second model year
Where to Next?: Tire Trends and TPMS Forecasts for Changing Times
Where do we go from here? To find out, we begin a three-part series to see where tire and wheel manufacturers, along with retail dealers, believe the performance market is heading. First up: tires. We have all questioned the proliferation of sizes over the past two decades. The UHP market has steadily increased in volume,
Fast Flat Repair: Product Launched at SEMA Promises TPMS Compatibility
One can get overwhelmed visiting Las Vegas, not to mention hitting the SEMA and AAPEX shows. If a company has a new product or service, it’s hard to attract anyone’s attention, especially a potential customer or the media. The 2008 edition was no exception. However, there was one new product that caught the eye of
Selling Safety: TPMS Valve Stems and Service More Than Just Good Business
For more than eight years, tire pressure monitoring systems have haunted the tire and auto industries. And just like any automotive component, the lifespan of TPMS parts is getting increasingly shorter year-by-year. Therein lies not only a solid business opportunity, but also an opportunity to show the customer your knowledge of the business – for
Side Benefits: TPMS for Commercial Trucks May Save Money, Lives
It’s old news that tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are now required on new passenger cars, light trucks, and SUVs with GVW ratings up to 10,000 lbs. However, most regulatory observers agree that the congressional mandate applies to all highway vehicles, and requirements covering commercial trucks through Class 8 are likely within the next several
Learning Curve: Training Still a Key Issue in TPMS Service, Multiple Options Exist
TPMS has many unresolved issues, and most tire dealers have dealt with the problems in various ways. However, one of the most common concerns these days still involves training. The Tire Industry Association has done an admirable job taking the lead in this area, and even recently released the Spanish version of its 200-Level TPMS
TPMS Troubles: ‘Simple’ Tire Rotations With TPMS Can Prove Tricky
Bias. Everyone, whether it is politics, labor, religion, food, whatever, has a bias. Mine is government overregulation in the name of safety. It is with that built-in opinion that I will attempt to explain what tiremakers, TPMS tool manufacturers and sensor makers want you to know about tire rotation and TPMS. The other day my
Making The Grade: Proper Tools Essential for Handling TPMS Issues
Just as the sports world claims you can’t identify the players without a program, the tire industry chants that you can’t fix a problem without the right tools. The world of tire pressure monitoring systems, or TPMS, is no different. In fact, having the proper tools is critical to servicing vehicles equipped with TPMS. While
The Latest Thing?: TPMS Training’s Slow Growth Runs Parallel to Industry
To auto and tire technicians, training is like a candy bar to a chocoholic – they can’t get enough. However, in the constantly changing TPMS world, training activities seem to mirror the industry itself. There remains no consistency, except for one source – the Mitchell1 Guide, a.k.a., the technician’s bible. “There’s nothing new in training,”
Getting Geeky: TPMS Issues, Vehicle Systems Keep Dealers on Their Toes
We’re at 100% TPMS compliance now. Are we having fun yet? To keep customers in your shop, plan on investing in diagnostic scanners and software, not to mention a serious investment in personnel who have an aptitude for technology. Just this week, I had a friend who owns a local tire store call me regarding
A New Era: TPMS Compliance Calls For New Products
The tire industry is now well into a new era. It may not rival the radial age, but the epoch already is memorable and some say forgettable. It’s the TPMS era. While most participants know that the groundwork was laid several years ago, the reality is that the TREAD Act’s final deadline for the “start”
TPMS 101: Tire Rack Offers Answers to Top Five TPMS Questions
From professional and college football down to youth-league soccer, everyone has a “Top Something-or-other” list. Why should the tire industry be different? Over the last year or so, Tire Rack has been conducting an informal and unscientific survey of its customers regarding the reoccurrence of issues dealing with tire pressure monitoring systems. Thanks to its