Safety Dance: Tiremaker Comes at Tread Depth Debate from Odd Angle
Michelin broke the tiremaker cone-of-silence in the debate over changing – or not changing, in this case – our scatter-shot tread depth limit regs. At a media briefing earlier this year, Michelin said change is not necessary, there’s no need for a national mandate, and, even then, lack of enforcement would render such regs moot.
Parting Words: Retiring Micali Looks Forward to Where He Sees Industry Heading
By the time you read this, Jim Micali will have closed the book on his 30-year career with Michelin North America. The now-retired chairman and CEO has turned the reins over to Dick Wilkerson, and is now enjoying time with his family. Micali, 60, won’t be frittering away his days. He plans to remain involved
August 2008 Sales Intelligence
Covering Albany, N.Y.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Dallas, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; Fargo, N.D.; and Macon, Ga., retail tire marketsduring period of July 2-3. Tire Review and InteliChek (formerly PriceChek) present up-to-date tire and service price information from U.S. metropolitan areas. For this monthly feature, InteliChek directly contacts a selection of independent tire dealers, mass merchants and
Turning Around: Tire and Service Sales Show Signs of Rebound in July
Dealer comments this month continue to reflect increased concerns over the economy and fuel prices. Dealers also mentioned customers are becoming even more price sensitive in their purchases. There is some hopeful news: tire unit and service sales at our panel of more than 100 tire dealers nationwide did show signs of rebounding in July,
What’s a Dealer to Do?: Dealers Can Still Win Even if the Economy is a Big Loser
All one has to do is look at the prices – in large, doomsday-sized letters – that hang outside most establishments selling gasoline or diesel fuel. Then the calculator in the left side of the brain begins to register. The results are usually the same: Holy Refinery! Everywhere you look gasoline hovers around $4 a
Keeping Up: Ever-Changing Market Challenges Custom Wheel Segment
If you’re one of the tire dealers out there who already has a reputable custom wheel business, consider yourself lucky. Choosing to enter this market segment now is more challenging than in years past, due to a fairly heavy upfront investment, trying economic times, constantly evolving sizes and styles, and required expertise in the areas
Learning Curve: Training Still a Key Issue in TPMS Service, Multiple Options Exist
TPMS has many unresolved issues, and most tire dealers have dealt with the problems in various ways. However, one of the most common concerns these days still involves training. The Tire Industry Association has done an admirable job taking the lead in this area, and even recently released the Spanish version of its 200-Level TPMS
Ultimate Re-Learn: Today’s New Fuel-Efficient Cars Require New Knowledge
We’ve been talking about alternative fuels since the great oil embargo of 1973, but no dice. A friend of mine from Holland says all Americans are the same. “You put your hands over your eyes and plugs in your ears,” he often tells me. “You know what’s coming, but you don’t seem to worry about
Staying Safer: Knowing Lug Nuts Can Help Avoid Costly Wheel-Off Accidents
Settlement in case where a defective tire blew and vehicle roof crushed the driver because of a defective weld, causing multiple injuries: $3 million. Settlement when wheel came off of a moving truck and struck a driver in the chest, killing him: $1,875,000. Do I have your attention? The preceding statements were taken directly from