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
The ‘New’ Teamwork Approach to Problems
Communication, teamwork, cooperation, and other such buzzwords of the MBA consultants aren’t news to most of us who have been involved in the truck tire industry for more than a few years. No doubt, these are all good words, even worthy goals in many instances. But I’ve long had a bit of a problem with
Diverse Vehicle Makes and Models Create TPMS Challenges
Not all tire pressure monitoring systems are created equal. In fact, each new vehicle model year brings with it a variety of updated TPMS replacement, reset, activation and decoding procedures. Some measures necessitate using the latest tools; all require a thorough understanding of step-by-step maintenance and service procedures. Learning about a specific TPMS while the
Rolling Forward: Tiremakers Improve Fleets’ Fuel Efficiency Through Technology
Modern trucking fleets face difficult challenges on a day-to-day basis. Fuel efficiency is one of the most important concerns to the contemporary fleet owner. Volatile oil prices dramatically affect the cost of fleet operations and maintenance. Growing environmental concerns push the development of green technologies and shape consumer perceptions of businesses. New government regulations to
Uphill Climb: Road to Recovery is Steep for Medium Truck Segment
Although 2009 was a tough year across the entire industry, the medium truck tire segment was hit particularly hard. The economic tailspin saw consumers tightening their budgets, which in turn resulted in diminished orders and less shipping. Trucks and other types of freight haulers sat idle, and demand for new tires plummeted. Freight tonnage was
Cooling Down: Reducing Heat is Key to Improving OTR Tire Performance
While the tire market has been soft the last two years, tire development hasn’t slowed, especially in the giant radial OTR sector. We’ll look at the latest tire technologies and how they improve tire performance in the field. The OTR tire market may have experienced some slowing over the last couple of years but the
The Sounds of Silence, Truck Tire Style
Those of you who have been in the industry more than a few years can remember when trucks were loud. Sometimes this was intentional, similar to when we, as teenagers, spent hard earned money to put dual glasspack mufflers on our hot rods. At other times the trucks just came that way new. Objections to this noise
Specialized Selling: Smart Dealers Can Stack Up Profits in Skid-Steer Market
In work sites across the country, one can find the versatile skid-steer loader. Because of its convenient size and capacity for special attachments, the machine can be used by consumers and pros in a multitude of applications, including construction, farming, excavation, recycling, landscaping, mining and snow removal. The skid-steer tire niche has changed quite a
Finding a Fix: Troubleshooting Customer TPMS Problems
r. Troubleshooting TipsWhen the ambient outdoor temperature falls 10F, the tire can lose around 5 psi depending on where you live and how much the temperature dips. The reverse is true in hot climate zones. The tire will gain air pressure. Sometimes heating and cooling can amount to 50 psi over the course of a
Interpreting Angles: The Important Relationship Between Caster, Camber and Toe
When talking about the big three in a vehicle’s suspension, caster is probably the hardest to visualize and the least mentioned. Camber and toe are much easier to wrap your head around, but it’s important that we understand caster because if we don’t, the customer may notice a diminished lack of handling. Perhaps caster can
Taking Stock: Be Ready with Performance Upgrade Options for 2010
Many times over the years, the automotive aftermarket has been given a platform that has largely contributed to a $35+ billion industry. This year, that car was the 2010 Camaro. Baer Brakes has introduced their Baer Claw Extreme (one piece rotors) and Extreme-Plus (two piece rotors) brake systems in the 14-inch 6S and massive 15-inch
Staying Strong: Despite Downturn, Farm Outlook ‘Looks Quite Positive’
By most measures, 2008 was a banner, record-setting year for the North American agricultural community, even considering the sudden, sharp economic decline that started in October 2008. 2009, though, is much different. After posting an all-time record of $87 billion in 2008, net farm income is projected to fall 34.5% to $57 billion for the