An Urgent Message To Public Sector Fleet Managers Everywhere
With the worldwide downturn in the economy facing cities, towns, counties, states, provinces and even villages everywhere, it is more important than ever for fleet managers to pay attention to their tire costs. Retreads can and should be the answer. Not only are retreaded tires very environmentally friendly, they are far more economical than comparable
Pulling Ahead: Trailer Tire Market Offers Stability, Profitability
In these uncertain times, a tire segment that offers low inventory, high profit margins, limited competition and steady growth may seem too good to be true. Fortunately, this scenario isn’t fiction, as dealers who take the time to look into the specialty/trailer tire segment will soon discover. Because the majority of dealerships don’t carry these
Sand Man: We See it Everywhere, But What Does Silica Do?
is equivalent to the total environmental impact of the tire’s production and the raw materials from which it is made. In other words, says Rhodia, “the energy savings made possible by the use of silica tire technology far outweigh the impact of its manufacture.” The French company even goes so far to say that since
Buildin’ It Up – Part 1: Putting a True Original Back on the Street Takes a Studied Approach
Passion [pash-uh n] – noun. Any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. That’s the definition of passion. In our world of tires and wheels, are you passionate about cars and trucks, or are they just utilitarian to you? If you view them in the former sense, you will appreciate and understand what we are going
Truck Tire Care Basic But Subtle
For years, recommendations for truck tire maintenance centered around inflation checks, visual checks for abnormalities, vehicle alignment, and industry standardized work procedures during mounting, dismounting, and other service operations. These core practices are necessary for safety, cost control and for minimizing downtime or unscheduled tire maintenance. There are many other important truck tire issues that,
Are Retreads Really Any Good?
One of my favorite movie comedies had a scene where a fellow’s wife peeked through a window and saw him in bed with another woman. When she confronted him, he denied it and said: “Who are you going to believe, me or your stinkin’ eyes?” I mention this because a great frustration to our industry
Course Work: Golf Course Tire Dealers Must Aim High to Score Points
Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day. We’ve all sung that song at least once, hoping our chants would part the clouds and allow for fun outdoor activities. Like golf. Persistent rain dampened the golf course business last year, which saw total rounds played fall by 1.8% vs. 2007, the biggest decline in play
An Ounce of Prevention: Selling TPMS Preventative Maintenance Boosts Bottom Line
Among several things, winter always drops unpleasant reminders of the many issues that can affect automobile and tire performance for the rest of the year. Tire pressure monitoring systems are just one of the more recent components whose operation can be adversely affected by winter’s wrath. As is common, these issues last well into spring
Weighing Options: Mechanical Balancing or Balancing Compounds?
There is no easy answer to this age-old question, because each choice has merit. Fleets on both sides of the argument are sold on their choice and most are not about to change their minds anytime soon. Think of it in the same way people think about cars. Some will only “buy American,” while others
Forward Thinking: New Models Mean New Customization Options
Over the last few months, we discussed what industry experts and retailers are predicting for the near future. In light of those views, this month we’ll focus on several new vehicles that are heading our way. As much as I love the growl of a V8 and respect the power of a forced induction 2.0
Super Wide Tires, Aluminum Wheels & Weight Savings
In the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership’s specifications for Class 8 vehicles, lighter-weight tractor and trailer components are recommended as potential fuel saving options. Reducing 3,000 lbs. from a heavy-duty vehicle, EPA notes, could save between 200 and 500 gallons of fuel each year. “Truck fuel consumption increases with the weight of the
When Simple Choices Just Aren’t Enough
Selecting the best truck tires – or, more specifically, matching tires to expected service conditions – has traditionally been accomplished by following a few simple guidelines. The three main service categories suggested by nearly all tire manufacturers have been: 1. high speed line haul 2. metro and pickup/delivery 3. mixed on-off road service Among the