Selecting the Correct OTR Tire Benefits Everyone
Demand placed on your customers to deliver their end products at competitive prices puts a lot of pressure on the commercial tire dealer. No longer can a salesperson assume that supplying the same product to the customer is the right thing to do for both parties.OTR tire customers are looking for ways to improve their
In Fast-Growing Farm Tire Market, Recession is a Distant Past
Overall, North American farmers have had a good year. High commodity prices for grain and cotton, coupled with improved milk and pork prices and record high beef prices have resulted in farmers having profits to spend updating their equipment – and their tires. In 2011, agricultural commodities prices went up by 31%, according to Jeff
Put in Extra Effort to Servicing the Farm Tire Market
When I was a tire manufacturer representative in the 1990s, I was talking to a dealer who for 20 minutes told me how he hated selling to farmers. The farmers complained too much about the price of tires, he said, they didn’t want to pay for service, they paid late, they wanted 24-hour field service
Tires for Versatile Skid-Steer Loaders Offer Dealers Steady Profits
When discussing investments and economic security, most experts recommend the same strategy: diversification. That way, when one segment of the market falls, all your eggs aren’t in the same proverbial basket. In a way, the same principle can be applied to the skid-steer loader tire market. Because of the machine’s capacity for special attachments and
Blossoming Landscape Tire Segment Brings Dealers Added Opportunities
Spring is in the air, and so are signs of recovery when it comes to replacement tire sales. And of course, there’s also the sound of homeowners and professional landscapers everywhere firing up their lawn equipment for the season. All these factors combined offer a promising outlook for tire dealers working the landscaping tire market.Last
Golf Course Tire Growth Slowed by Decline in Play
After a slump in 2009 and another slow year in 2010, it appears golf course business in the U.S. has scored a double bogey as of late. While the numbers may vary by geographic location, overall total rounds played in 2010 were down compared to the year before – a drop of 2% for public
Giant OTR Segment Returning to Pre-Recession Growth Pattern
The roller coaster that is the giant OTR tire segment is once again on an upward climb. While demand hasn’t yet reached the pre-recession figures seen in 2007 and 2008, last year showed significant recovery. And representatives from several tire manufacturers predict this growth will continue into 2011 and beyond – which raises the question
SEMA Products
Hankook introduced the new Ventus V2 Concept high performance all-season tire, which the tiremaker said features a patented design and special compounds that allow it to match the performance capabilities of most summer tires, but with twice the snow traction. The tire’s “Twister System,” a 3-D wave pattern channel, removes water from the tire’s contact
Ag and Forestry Tire Segments Offer Stability and Profits
For some very positive economic news, one needs to look no further than the agriculture and forestry markets. Although the two fared quite differently during the recession – farming remained fairly strong throughout 2008 and 2009, while logging saw a steep decline during that time – both segments are on a growth track now. This,
Lawn and Garden Segment Returning to Slow, Steady Growth
As was the trend with the majority of tire segments, the lawn and garden niche suffered during the economic slump of 2009. But tiremakers are optimistic, and a surge in sales of both residential and commercial landscaping equipment this spring has jump-started the segment’s recent growth. “The lawn and garden market has some correlation to
Trailer Tire Segment Begins to Pull Forward After Downturn
After a down year in 2009, the trailer tire segment is heading back to its usual pattern of slow, steady growth. In the last decade, sales of trailer tires had grown year-on-year until last year’s economic downturn, where it seems no segment was left unaffected. As with all discretionary purchases, sales of trailers themselves –
Supply Nearly Meets Demand in OTR Segment, Market Loosening
The OTR tire market has gone through drastic supply and demand changes over the last several years, making it tough for dealers – and manufacturers – to adapt. The good news is things are forecasted to stabilize in the near future, even in the hard-to-produce 57- and 63-inch sizes. In the earlier part of the