Harvest Time?: Ag Tire Dealers Need to Act Quickly Before Another Drought Comes
, ag tire dealers hurt. The market for ag tires depends directly on the strength of the larger agricultural economy, which, to say the least, has not been favorable. Continuing farm consolidations, more imports and fewer exports combined with steadily declining crop prices have hurt the farm economy. As if these conditions weren’t enough, farmers
While Rome Burns
Last spring, an independent analysis of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)data confirmed the obvious – the U.S. road system was in bad need of repair. Anyone driving the highways and byways can tell our infrastructure is structurally unsound. But, what would high-priced researchers do if they weren’t masters of the obvious? Regardless, nonprofit The Road Information
Does It Rate?: Do We Really Need Tires That Can Do 186 MPH?
There are tire engineers out there who don’t much give a hoot about tire speed ratings. “It®™s not even a government regulation,” says one. ®There is no government test for speed ratings. The only speed-related test is euphemistically called a ‘temperature resistance test,®™ and it’s built around the ability of a tire to disperse heat
Bland to Brilliant: Wheel Plating
Have you ever wondered how a wheel gets chrome plated? You just “dip” a dull wheelinto a big vat of chrome, and it comes out shiny and new, right? Well, not really.On the contrary, there are vastly different chrome plating processes – a mixture of hard science and a little voodoo ®“ and each presents
Hidden Heat Dangers
Even the most diligent technicians can be misled if component performance has been compromised by problems that are not culled out by normal inspections, not visually apparent or so rare that the offending condition is a first-time experience for the technician. Carefully inspecting used truck parts before placing them back into service is always good
CHINA: Dealers, Tiremakers Are Capitalizing, But Economic Revolution Has Issues
Today’s China-made tires may well carry the names Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear or that of other majors and are produced using the same technology, processes and stringent quality standards of those well-known global brands. Only they are being produced for pennies on the dollar.My, how times have changed.
On Its Own Turf: Toyo Sets Up Shop in the U.S., More Big Plans Underway
Toyo Sets Up Shop in the U.S., More Big Plans Underway
Just in Case
You never know when someone famous is going to clock out, so most newspapers have a drawer full of pre-written obituaries at the ready. We have a similar system here. Below is a sample, though we hope we’ll never have to use this one. WELLSBOTTOM, Va. ®“ Yesterday at 7 p.m., Billy Throneberry turned the
Finding Its Niche: Kumho Looks to Automated Production to Meet Profit Goals
Finding Its NicheKumho Looks to Automated Production to Meet Profit Goals
Beating Goliath: How Can Small Independent Tire Shop Compete
They have economies of scale, which gives them enormous buying power. They can afford national ad campaigns and expensive PR programs. They have ready access to the latest technologies to run their supply chains and streamline their operations. Relatively speaking, their overall costs are low. They are the national retailers, the mass merchants, the big-box
Complete Hiring/Firing Guide
What are the three most important factors in retailing success? Location, location, location? Nope – they are staff, staff, staff. Personnel experts contend that poor hiring decisions are the main causes of absenteeism and poor productivity, which ultimately result in employee turnover and profit loss. The smaller your business, the more important each person. Just
Secrets of Winter Tires
Ordinarily used in the same sentence with cooking oils, canola has found a new niche at Nokian Tyre’s winter tire plant in Finland. That’s where the "low-sat-fat" oil is mixed into Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tire tread compounds. "It increases the tear resistance of rubber and improves the tire’s grip in winter and wet conditions," says