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.
Survival Mode: Significant Changes in Retreading Forcing Independents to Adapt
They expected it to happen eventually. It was just a matter of time, industry insiders said. So, it wasn’t a total surprise when Bridgestone Americas Holding (BAH) announced its intent to purchase retread giant Bandag. After all, BAH and Bandag have collaborated for decades. Bandag-owned Tire Distribution Systems (TDS) stores sell Bridgestone tires, and many
Hot Off the Lot: As 2007 Models Roll In, Keep an Eye on Aftermarket Opportunities
After all my years of writing this column, I would have hoped by now that the people who design and build new vehicles would appreciate the insight into the aftermarket that Tire Review offers each month. That being said, I have gathered information on several new vehicles and will offer a few tips on wheel,
5 ‘Little’ Ways Dealers Can Help Fleets
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a good program better, even great. However, some little things can haunt fleets unexpectedly, creating disabling problems that can be elusive to diagnose and difficult to correct. We tire people tend to focus on the big issues – proper tire selection, application, and maintenance, with inflation pressure checks
Defining a Tire Strategy
Researching, designing and implementing a “strategic plan” sounds pretty impressive, but I’ve always been a bit confused about such vague terms. In hopes of some clearer understanding, I consulted my dusty college dictionary and quickly learned that the primary definitions of “strategic” are related to warfare, military planning and the like. Further down the list,
Donks, Boxes & Bubbles: Hot Stuff From the SEMA Show Can Put Profits Into Overdrive
From street rods to ‘donks’ to high-performance European machines and ‘invisible wheels,’ this year’s SEMA Show had you covered with new and innovative products to help you improve your sales. Plus, there was a new tool that helps reduce back injuries while improving ride by centering the wheels on a vehicle’s hub. First up: the
Simply No Secrets
The secrets to success in the tire business – and, for that matter, in trucking – have not been deep and dark. They are not extracts from some higher learning or the result of intricate laboratory testing. Except for technological breakthroughs, no great tire or trucking business thoughts have been unearthed over the last 10
Better Fuel Economy? Start With a Strong Tire Program
This year, the U.S. interstate highway system marks its 50th anniversary. It is not surprising to drivers who travel these roads that, amid the ever-rising cost of a barrel of oil, and the proliferation of eco-friendly hybrids and alternative fuels, trucks still rule the highways and their many adjoining capillaries. While the percentage of trucks
What Are Retreaders Doing to Improve Fuel Efficiency?
If trucks are kings of the road, then retreaded tires are their scepters. The Tire Industry Association estimates that approximately 17.6 million retreaded truck tires were sold in North America in 2005, with total sales exceeding $3 billion. The majority of these were medium truck tires. That’s almost three-fourths of the entire medium/heavy truck tire
Super Wides: Can Super Wide Tires Cut Fuel Costs?
Smart fleets and progressive tire dealers opt for a symbiotic relationship – one in which the dealer helps the fleet lower its operating costs, while the fleet ensures continued business for the dealer. After all, a supplier relationship in its ideal form should be a partnership, not just a sales contract. Still, commercial tire innovation