Addition by Additives
People are always in search of "performance improvements." Whether it’s six-pack abs or more hair, we ponder new and better options ®“ and sometimes additives ®“ to enhance one thing or another. It’s really no different with commercial truck tires. Over the last few years, there has been a growing market for a variety of
KISS Tiremaking
KISS Tiremaking We’re all familiar with the acronym "KISS" ®“ Keep It Simple, Stupid. It’s generally good when instructing a large audience or trying to standardize procedures among diverse groups. KISS helps people remember detailed procedures, routines and sequences. However, KISS doesn’t always work when product and process technologies are involved. I was reminded of
Business Opportunities: Use ‘Em or Lose ‘Em
u. The quick fix is to get them to take a closer look at your people. In fact, fleet managers should be encouraged to spend time talking with your tire experts to see which ones can really help them. Ideally, a good fleet manager will strike up a long-term relationship with someone from your staff,
Handling an Issue
If you’re a car enthusiast, or at least spend some time reading the promotion- al material selling high performance passenger vehicles, it’s hard to miss the importance placed on tires and wheels in achieving outstanding cornering and crisp response. The tire contribution in what truly is a multi-faceted handling equation is further underscored weekly at
All Torqued Up: Several Torque Wrench Styles to Choose From
Torque is what holds the automotive world together and keeps things from falling apart. Anytime you tighten a nut, bolt or screw, you’re applying torque through a wrench, ratchet handle, nutdriver or screwdriver. The harder you push, pull or twist the tool, the greater the torque you apply. If you use too much muscle, you
The Art of Noise
Remember a few years back, while driving along the interstate, you’d roll up the passenger side window to avoid offensive noise as you passed a large truck? It was always annoying, but, if you think about it, you aren’t doing that as much anymore. There are several reasons why. Most modern automobiles incorporate better noise
What Drives Sizing
ition of rim diameters, profiles, widths or even tire appearance in some time. While attending a recent auto show, the wide variety of new tire sizes was impressive. As you might expect, futuristic concept cars, SUVs, and light duty pickups provided the most expansive array of new tire designs and sizes. Aggressive, macho and rugged
Up to Bats
Keeping Your Eye on the Ball Will Keep Fleet Customers Rolling Trouble-Free Since fleets are beginning to recognize the importance of tire inflation pressure maintenance, the number of tractors and trailers inspected on a daily basis is probably as high as it’s ever been. Unfortunately, too many technicians just check the tread depth and the
Tangled Program Web
The question of whom is responsible – and ultimately accountable ®“ for tires and wheels in any given trucking organization is one that has been considered by the industry for decades. Answers have been varied, sometimes innovative, and often overly complex. Occasionally, the responsibility has been fragmented, resulting in conflicting rather than complementing interests. Major
A Military Salute
With military equipment playing such a prominent role in world news recently, I thought it might be interesting to review the types of tires on military trucks and compare them to our more familiar over-the-road highway tires. First, both tire types perform the same basic functions of supporting loads, transferring driving and braking torques, generating
Sensing Alternatives
Remember the near-daily news stories about tire-related SUV accidents? And all the finger pointing that tried to pin the cause on the tires or vehicles or, in some cases, even driver error? Well, the dust has settled and the wheels (no pun intended) of the government fix-it-meisters have been turning. The TREAD Act was enacted
Running in Tandem
Running in Tandem Fleet & Dealer Partnerships: Creativity, Dedication and Trust Help Both Sides in Today’s Brutal Market Sometimes a story sounds too good to be true. Listen to what fleet owner Duane Acklie from Omaha, Neb., has to say about spending money with tire dealers. "When I spend money with today’s sophisticated, creative tire