Big Enough?
Big Enough? As the diameters of performance tires increase, manufacturers have to walk the fine line between function and fantasy You’re walking along the show floor at the International Tire Expo in Las Vegas. You pass a seemingly endless collection of cars and tires. Wheels shimmer on display. Parts and accessories abound. And the people
Wiring in the Profits
Wiring in the Profits Have you really ever noticed just how many vehicles have wire wheels on them? How often have you been driving around town and think to yourself, "Wouldn’t it be nice to capture some of that market?" Building on the selling techniques that we’ve discussed in the last few issues of this
How Big Do You Want To Go?
How Big Do You Want To Go? That’s what you’ll be saying as we take you through the steps to begin a sale, guide a customer to the right wheels and then close the sale. All too often, a customer comes into a dealer’s store and asks which wheels will fit on their vehicle and
Clear for Takeoff: Despite Uncertainties, Private Brands Continue March On With Confidence
The private brand tire market has had to fight through a lot in the past year. First, there was the ongoing recession. Then a belief that private brands would get left behind in favor of major brands popped up. And there was one month when everything came to a standstill. Then, of course, there was
The Art of Selling
The Art of Selling Over the last several months, you have learned about the technical aspects of custom wheels. Now, it’s time to develop your selling skills. In this first of a two-part segment, we’ll discuss ways to market your business and gain marketshare in your area using custom wheels. Then we’ll show you how
Types and Finishes
Types and Finishes Let’s talk about wheel construction, types of finishes and the pros and cons to each. Understanding the nuances of each will allow you to guide your customer to the right kind of wheel to fit their specific needs. First, wheel construction. Almost everyone is familiar with steel wheels – an inner face
Weather or Not: Weak Winters Hamper Winter Tire Growth and Opportunities
Weather or Not Weak Winters Hamper Winter Tire Growth and Opportunities Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight. Walking in a ®ƒ Winter wonderland? It’s May, winter’s over. But that doesn’t mean dealers and tiremakers aren’t thinking about winter tires. On the contrary, they’re
Smooth It Over: Simple Repair Technique Saves Time, Headaches and Money
Smooth It Over Simple Repair Technique Saves Time, Headaches and Money Consider this common scenario: You just sold an expensive set of tires and wheels, and are feeling pretty happy with the accomplishment. But while you’re mounting the tires, the mount head on the changer suddenly slips and damages the wheel’s outside flange. The
Tools of the Trade: Finding the Right Tire and Wheel Combination Easier Than Ever
Tools of the Trade Finding the Right Tire and Wheel Combination Easier Than Ever How many times has a customer asked you how large a tire and wheel they could fit on their vehicle? If you’ve heard that question once, you’ve heard it a hundred times. Determining the exact or maximum tire and wheel size
Back to Basics – Part 2
Back to Basics – Part 2 Building on the knowledge gained from last month’s column on wheel measurement basics, let’s take a look at the different types of lug nuts and their purposes. This may seem like a trivial matter, but the fact is that for all of the work that you do in your
Moving on Upward: Luxury SUVs Have Changed the Way Manufacturers and Dealers Think
Moving on Upward Luxury SUVs Have Changed the Way Manufacturers and Dealers Think It used to be that a sport utility vehicle was nothing more than a pickup truck with a backseat and a covered bed. A time when the Jeep Cherokee was the most luxurious SUV simply because it was the only SUV. Now
Start at the Beginning
Start at the Beginning Welcome to Wheel Turnings, a new regular column that will discuss important – and, we hope, valuable – technical and application issues with custom wheels and tire/wheel packages. In our ever-changing industry, we must always be aware of what our retail customers need and demand from us. First, a little bit