Trend Tracking: Shifts in UHP Segment Make Dealer’s Job Harder, Demand Attention
Aftermarket accessories – especially custom wheels and tires – have always been about being trendy. From the designers to the customer, the goal is always to stay ahead of the trendiness curve. But for an independent tire dealer, success with custom wheels and performance tires has always been about following the trends. Today, with national
Long-Term Headaches: TPMS Problems Will Continue, Dealers Need to Tackle Them Straight On
The problems still exist and, just like the Grand Canyon, they look like they’re going to be around for a some time. Of course, we’re referring to a cornucopia of issues dealing with tire pressure monitoring systems. Whether it’s nickel-plated valve cores, brass valve cores, rubber grommets, aluminum retaining nuts, special nickel-plated valve cores and
An In-Depth Look at Tread Depth
If some amount of a concept or product is good, then more of it should be better, right? Not necessarily. One of the trends in radial truck tires, namely deeper tread depths, is a good example. The primary goal of deeper treads is to extend take-off mileages, which obviously keeps the truck out of the
Weight Savings & Fuel Economy
While cost savings will vary depending on vocation, application and operating conditions, states a Kenworth White Paper published a few years ago, weight savings can improve the lifecycle cost of a vehicle in two respects: increased payload capacity and better fuel economy. “Lighter weight reduces the amount of horsepower required to overcome mechanical resistance of
Shockingly Good Tire Wear
The soft-riding trucks of today are a far cry from the rough-and-tumble kidney bouncers of yesterday. Air-ride tandem drive axles, longer taper-leaf steer axle springs and air spring rear cab mounts have become standard on many models. Recently, suspension travel – or jounce and rebound limits – have been extended, together with ride-height sensors, lateral
Perfect Fit: Matching Tire to Application Even More Critical in Broad Industrial Tire Market
Matching Tire to Application Even More Critical in Broad Industrial Tire Market Sometimes, when a person widens his or her view of something, that something tends to expand and take on a life of its own. After all, perception is reality; it’s all in the eye of the beholder. So it goes with industrial tires.
Struck Down: Rejection of TPMS Challenge Has Both Predictable, Unpredictable Implications
It was a challenge that had to be made, but at least for now, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in mid-June regarding NHTSA’s rule on tire pressure monitoring systems will stand as originally written. The court ruled the petitioning parties – four tire companies, TIA and consumer watchdog Public Citizen – failed to establish
Back In Time: Retro Vehicle Styling Gaining Speed While Savvy Dealers Profit
Retro Vehicle Styling Gaining Speed While Savvy Dealers Profit It’s the middle of summer, and everywhere you turn, there’s a car show or cruise happening that attracts owners of hotrods, streetrods and classics. The baby boomers are pouring untold millions into this market segment. Earlier this year, several 1969 Camaros went ‘on the block’ at
Lines of Distinction?: As Tire Technology Advances, Geographic Boundries Disappear
Our industry – at home and abroad – has been building tires for more than a century. Along the way, we allowed ourselves to be fooled every once in a while by ‘technology’ that really didn’t live up to its billing. One example is the single-ply tire promoted as being as strong as a two-ply
Moving Target: Dealers Need Sure Footing to Take Accurate Aim in New Tire World
There’s a growing phenomenon imposing its will on the tire industry these days. It’s called “global warming,” but it has nothing to do with the weather. It has everything to do with “warming up” to imports and overseas suppliers. North American tire dealers – retail and commercial – have certainly seen their brand options increase
Maximum Uptime: The Skid-Steer Tire Market is Changing, But Up-to-Date Dealers Can Profit
The Skid-Steer Tire Market is Changing, But Up-to-Date Dealers Can Profit It’s been called the Swiss army knife of construction – the most versatile of all mobile machines. It’s the ubiquitous skid-steer loader, and thanks to its compact size and suitability for specialty attachments, it can handle just about any task. Does that guarantee an
Drivetrain Headaches: Do 2WD, 4WD and AWD Vehicles Need Different Tire Solutions?
Do 2WD, 4WD and AWD Vehicles Need Different Tire Solutions? Ilive in the snow belt, so I am well used to those days when a simple 45-minute drive to, say, take the kids to the circus can become a frightening eight-hour return trip. Around here, two hours of clowns and elephants is long enough for