Changing Ideals: Why There May Never Be a Perfect Tire
When I was working in public relations for a major tire company back in the early 1970s, an older scientist with an impeccable track record told me it was sad that he now had to spend his days working on the radial ply tire. When I asked why, he said, “Because we were just beginning
Looking Ahead: SEMA Show Trends Point to Vehicle Customization Future
Last month, we ended the article with the prediction of a growing number of color and designs that allow for several years of production. Well, we hit it on the head. I haven’t seen that many color variations at the SEMA Show since the Tuner revolution of the early 1990s. Take a look at this
Is It in the Stars?
Will truck tires always remain round and black, essentially their present form? It would seem unlikely that our current tubeless radials would follow, for example, some farm tires that are being replaced by reinforced rubber belts or the lowly wheelbarrow tires where solid urethane flat-proof tires are replacing their pneumatic predecessors. Increased traction, reduced soil
Knowledge Is Power
I want to create a scenario about three guys who decided to open a trucking company. Each of them had a truck and each was responsible for the tires on his own truck. Their names are Paul Abelson, Al Cohn and Asa Sharp, names that might be familiar to you if you read trucking magazines.
Times (and Tires) Are Changing
Not many years ago, industry veterans would have characterized our industry as conservative, resistant to change and in some cases, downright stubborn to accept new ideas. Today a number of changes are being forced on fleets, some by regulations and others by an intensely competitive transportation market. Let’s take a look at how some trends
Retreading Produces 30% Less CO2
The following report was commissioned for the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse, United Kingdom, and is being reprinted as a TRIB News Release since it contains important information about the environmental benefits of retreaded tires worldwide. An independent analysis carried out to compare the relative carbon footprints of new tyres and retreaded tyres has concluded
Smaller Demand: With Vehicle Downsizing, Large Wheels Are Tough to Sell
A few years ago, you could buy a 20-inch chrome-plated wheel from China for $125. Now that the Chinese government has reduced or removed subsidies to those wheel manufacturers and the U.S. dollar has lost value, those days are about gone. This article was planned a year ago, but I had no idea how much
A Permanent Solution: Safety, Profits From Permanent Tire Repair
Even though it ensures customers’ safety plus offers the potential for a steady revenue stream, proper, permanent tire repair is still not a service offered by all tire dealers. It might have something to do with today’s “instant gratification” society, where shops don’t want to take the time to repair a tire, and customers don’t
Gaining Grip: With Added Demand, All-Season UHP Market Going Nowhere But Up
It’s no secret that sales of performance tires have been steadily increasing for the last decade, but one segment in particular – all-season UHP tires – has seen particularly rapid growth. Most likely, OE fitments and customer demands have already caused a huge majority of tire dealers to address this segment. With the ever-increasing popularity
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
Ounces of Prevention: Taking a Few Extra Steps Can Prevent Dangerous Wheel-Offs
Wheel offs – they happen on 18-wheelers, they happen on passenger cars, and the news is always bad. The primary reason for this type of mistake almost always has something to do with lug nuts and/or studs. As lug nuts are taken off, note immediately if they are difficult to remove. This is the first
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