No Boundaries?: Blurred Lines a Challenge, But Dealers Can Still Make Hay With Lawn & Garden Tires
It used to be a no-brainer: Specialized tires have specialized buyers. While that mantra still holds true in some tire segments, for lawn and garden tires, lines that were clearly observable in the past are starting to blur. Boundaries are fading, and the market is fast becoming more complex. And, we’re not just talking about
Speeding Away?: Technology, Practicality Moving Us Closer to Fewer Ratings
For too many years, we’ve been explaining to our customers why they need speed-rated tires. It’s the right choice, for example, if the vehicle came OE with a V-rated UHP radial. To make that rating, the tire must be able to run at sustained speeds of up to 149 mph. “But I don’t drive 149
Real Big Toys: Big Trucks Offer Opportunities for Big Suspension, Tire Upgrades
Following up on last month’s subject of new products for cars, we’re tackling the truck market this month. Let’s face it: Some Americans are always going to want a big truck, or bigger than they had last year or one with diesel power. That being said, I’ve tracked down a few new products to help
Tips for Light-Duty Trucks
When purchasing these trucks, fleet managers must first consider the tasks the trucks will be asked to perform and where they will reside, with special attention to geography, road conditions and driver habits. Tire dealers, in conjunction with their fleet customers, then have to sort out the optimum tire for the application and expected service
Over There: New-Car Dealer Shares Trials, Tribulations of Dealing With TPMS
Tire dealers aren’t the only ones concerned about TPMS these days. Auto dealers, also, are handling an increasing number of TPMS-equipped vehicles in their service bays. While there’s stronger competition for vehicle service than meets the tire-dealer eye, TPMS is forcing both auto and tire dealers to cope with a new entrÉe on their service
Sweating It Out: Continuing Tire Shortage Opens Supplier Doors, Puts Strain on Servicing Dealers
It’s been the best of times and the worst of times for OTR tire dealers. Over the past three years, mining, quarry and construction customers have been crying out for new tires. But all the orders in the world mean nothing without tires. As dealers know all too well, the real result of all that
Process of Elimination: To Get the Most Out of Your Bays, Make Every Step Matter
Here’s some of the freshest thinking available about getting the most out of your service bays. Maybe you have a limited amount of space. Maybe you’re adding a couple of new bays. Either way, wasted steps are out, effective use of space is in. With each new generation of equipment and people who count every
No Muss, No Fuss: Bolt-On Performance Upgrades Can Offer Easy Profit Potential
The automotive industry is an ever-evolving, ever-changing entity, both for manufacturers and consumers. Knowing and predicting trends can lead to huge sales and profits. This month and next, we will cover a few of the trends I see over the horizon, many of which involve products you can easily sell and install with existing personnel
Import Tires Are Solutions, Not Problems
In case you haven’t noticed, truck tires with new names are starting to appear where only well-known brands have tread. Historically, there have always been unfamiliar (and usually inexpensive) entries into very mature, shrinking market segments. A perfect example of this are the tube-type bias-ply tires that were fitted to container chassis just prior to
Bias Ply Tires Fading From Memory
It’s been a long time coming and, in the opinion of most tire industry engineers, long past due. Bias ply truck tires are officially relics of a past age. Early truck radials were tailored for over-the-road service, and their robust tread, sidewall and internal reinforcement materials soon outperformed even the best bias unit. Then mixed-service
Truck Tire Repair Saves Green
Tires are one of the largest equipment expenses facing fleet managers, so it’s important to get the longest life possible out them. Retreading is one way that many fleets prolong the life of their tires. But many times a tire will encounter road debris that damages the tread section before the tire is ready to
Rolling Strong: Commercial Tire Market Will See OE Slowdown, Replacement Rebound
As the old saying goes, “Things will get worse before they get better.” That’s the operative statement for the North American commercial tire industry in 2007. In a proverbial nutshell, the OE forecast for 2007 looks down, while the replacement market will rebound from 2006. The main impetus behind that forecast rests in Washington, D.C.