Product Spotlight: Tire and Wheel Balancers
Tire and wheel balancers continue to become more sophisticated. Many now incorporate onboard LCD touch screens with easy-to-understand graphics and step-by-step instructions to help even inexperienced tire technicians properly perform each procedure. unbalance detection. These sensors are extremely sensitive and offer superior long-term stability. LED rolling wheel indicators show weight positions as the wheel rolls
February 2011 Sales Intelligence
Covering San Diego, Calif.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Millings, Mont.; Charlotte, N.C.; Wichita, Kans.; and Baltimore, Md., retail tire markets during the period of Jan. 27-31. Tire Review and InteliChek 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 car
State of the Union: Industry Strong, Future Challenges Can Be Overcome
Mr. Chairman and ladies and gentlemen…The state of our industry is and remains strong. Despite heavy cost and economic pressures, unresolved regulation, self-inflicted over-saturation and our inability, in many cases, to act in concert for the greater good, the tire industry from top to bottom remains one of the most vital and robust in the
Challenges Met, Kumho Ready For Continued Improvement
Kumho Tire USA has weathered the storm of 2010 – a year riddled with the financial makeover of parent company Kumho Asiana Group, a sluggish economy and continued repercussions of the Chinese tire tariff – and is looking toward a bright future.Somewhat appropriately, the tiremaker used the sunny backdrop of Los Cabos, Mexico, when delivering
January Frost Doesn’t Quell K&M Tire Plans for Dealer Group
The bone-chilling cold that is Red Wing, Minn., in mid-January could do little to cool down the warm-fest as K&M Tire gathered its marketing group dealers for their first program meeting.It was not the first time the Mr. Tire dealers had gathered; the meetings were an annual occurrence when the program was run by Universal
In Anniversary Year, Hankook Will Continue to Gain Momentum
When it comes to beautiful locations for a meeting, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is hard to beat. After the year Hankook Tire America Corp. just had, holding its annual Partner Days event at Riviera Nayarit there was a real treat for the 100 or so dealers in attendance.Hankook Tire America President and COO Soo II Lee
After Years of Change, ‘Driven’ Goodyear Sees More Than Tires
To best understand the tone of the recent Goodyear dealer meeting, it’s important to start at the end. "We make people’s lives better." That’s how Rich Kramer, 47, wrapped up his keynoter to some 1,500 tire dealers plus their employees and spouses, and Goodyear associates gathered at the massive Gaylord Texan hotel near Dallas.What the
Growing the Green By Being Green is the Brodie Way
It should be no surprise that consumers still say they will pay more for "environmentally-friendly" products. In fact, according to research by Mintel, P&G and Ipsos, 35% of buyers will pay more – despite the recession. And another 74% say they would switch to another brand if it helped them conserve resources without having to
Diagnosing and Replacing Chassis & Ride Control Components
Worn chassis parts are often-overlooked causes of tire wear, steering and handling problems, and even road noise. Worn tie rods are the most common culprit for causing rapid tire wear, but worn control arm bushings or ball joints also can contribute to tire wear.
Who Should Dealers Consult for Fleet Tire Maintenance Programs?
Tire responsibility – whose is it anyway? Is it the tire technicians, the truck drivers, the director of maintenance or the tire program manager? The answer is all of the above. The director of fleet maintenance typically oversees the program. but requires input from the entire team.It takes a total team approach to have a
Online Group Discount Programs Guarantee New Customers
Imagine a form of marketing that’s 95% guaranteed to drive new customers to your shop’s door without any upfront costs. Believe it or not, there’s no catch. Online group discount websites are making this scenario a reality for a variety of businesses, including tire dealers.Online group discount sites – which include livingsocial.com, buywithme.com, lifebooker.com, groupon.com
Dealers, Drivers Need to Think of TPMS in Winter Tire Changeovers
It hasn’t been a typical winter. Snowstorms have been relentless. A blizzard affected one’third of the U.S., dumping two feet of the white stuff on Chicago and New York City. Even the Super Bowl wasn’t spared, providing a dramatic scene of maintenance crews shoveling the Cowboys Stadium retractable dome. Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring