Delivering Profits: Class 3-5 Commercial Truck Tire Market Sees Steady Growth
Class 3-5 Commercial Truck Tire Market Sees Steady Growth Even though the economy has created a challenging landscape for many businesses and tire segments, the class 3-5 truck tire replacement market has remained steady. With moderate yet stable growth expected to continue in the coming years, it may be a good time to look at
The Latest Thing?: TPMS Training’s Slow Growth Runs Parallel to Industry
To auto and tire technicians, training is like a candy bar to a chocoholic – they can’t get enough. However, in the constantly changing TPMS world, training activities seem to mirror the industry itself. There remains no consistency, except for one source – the Mitchell1 Guide, a.k.a., the technician’s bible. “There’s nothing new in training,”
Warranty Blues: Tire Warranties, Frustrated Consumers and Baffled Dealers
Tire Warranties, Frustrated Consumers and Baffled Dealers A major tire company executive once insisted that there was no place for a radial ply tire in the U.S. Months later he was replaced. Those were the days when a radial was expected to return nearly 40,000 miles – astounding for that time. The driving public, Detroit
Higher Tech: Advancements in Tire Innovations Abound…Just Look Around
Advancements in Tire Innovations Abound…Just Look Around If you’re like me, you’re intrigued and amazed at the technological advances that are introduced almost daily. New applications derived from nanotechnology to light waves are leaping exponentially. It’s almost too much to keep track of. But what about the lowly tire industry? Why can’t we have a
Wheel Refinishing Comes of Age
Putting a new face on used steel truck wheels and rims has never been easy. New wheel manufacturers have the luxury of working with clean, virgin steel in an automated assembly line where large quantities of specialized chemicals, dipping tanks and primer/topcoat paint applications are controlled and repeatable. Wheel refinishers, on the other hand, deal
Do Business With The Good Guys
Just as in any other business, there are good retreaders and some that are not so good. The trick is to be certain you are dealing with the best top quality retreaders in your area. Here are a few rules to follow to be certain you get the best quality retreads for your money, with
Growing Steady: Commercial Landscaping Tire Market Offers Opportunities
Commercial Landscaping Tire Market Offers OpportunitiesBack in the 1980s, when North Gateway Tire in Medina, Ohio, first entered the commercial landscaping tire market, the dealership listed all its offerings in that segment on a double-sided flyer. Today, the company puts out a nearly 30-page catalog of the products it offers in this small yet promising
Stagger Savvy: Front to Rear Size Differences Require Special Knowledge
Front to Rear Size Differences Require Special KnowledgeSome of the top tire dealers I’ve encountered are those who elect to understand virtually everything they can about a tire, its performance level, its construction features, its overall diameter and its OE assigned position. This includes corner-by-corner knowledge, as well as being front-to-rear axle savvy. When we
Getting Geeky: TPMS Issues, Vehicle Systems Keep Dealers on Their Toes
We’re at 100% TPMS compliance now. Are we having fun yet? To keep customers in your shop, plan on investing in diagnostic scanners and software, not to mention a serious investment in personnel who have an aptitude for technology. Just this week, I had a friend who owns a local tire store call me regarding
Zipper Rupture Bulletin Issued
Think about the thousands of truck tire debris pieces alongside many major roadways, almost every one responsible for an unscheduled (and expensive) service stop. It has been well documented that many of these failed tires share several common traits they were underinflated and fitted to an inner dual tire position. Consider that, for every one
What Color Are Retreads?
Retreaded tires are one of the most environmentally friendly of all recycled products, containing one of the highest post consumer contents since the actual tire is being recycled. Every time a tire is retreaded there is one less tire to go to our already overcrowded landfills. The oil savings with retreads is also very significant
What’s The Best Way To Ruin A Tire? Part Two
In our first Best Way To Ruin a Tire article we discussed improper tire repairs. Today let’s discuss improper tire inflation. Tires that are improperly inflated WILL fail, given enough time. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Tires are simply vessels to hold air, even though they are also incredibly