Where do Dealers Get Service Parts?
In 2010, a large increase was seen in the number of dealers who said they got service parts from a local parts jobber – roughly 51% compared to 39% in 2009. The largest decrease was parts bought from tire companies, which fell to 5.1% in 2010 from 23.6% in 2009. Data from Tire Review 2010
Snow and Ice and Other Winter Hazards
In some parts of the country, winter means snow-packed driveways, icy stairs, wet floors, roof collapse and frozen pipes. Zurich advises business owners to not wait until it’s too late to prepare for winter emergencies. Snow-related roof failures continue to be a common occurrence every year, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses
SEMA Products
Hankook introduced the new Ventus V2 Concept high performance all-season tire, which the tiremaker said features a patented design and special compounds that allow it to match the performance capabilities of most summer tires, but with twice the snow traction. The tire’s “Twister System,” a 3-D wave pattern channel, removes water from the tire’s contact
Pirelli: On 5th Avenue and on the Move in North America
Not long after setting up Pirelli’s new sales and marketing offices on 5th Avenue in New York City, the tiremaker is further strengthening its position in the North American market by committing to additional production capabilities with a new tire plant scheduled to be on line by the first half of 2012. Located in Silao,
The Past, Present and Future of TPMS
Ebenezer Scrooge would probably fear the Ghost of Christmas Past and welcome the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, if the Scrooge and Marley firm of Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol" was a player in the tire pressure monitoring system industry instead of London’s financial lending community. In the revised account of the holiday classic, the
Bleeding Brake Fluid in ABS-Equipped Vehicles
According to R. L. Polk, the average age of the vehicles on U.S. roads was 9.2 years in 2007, with 41% of the vehicles 11 years or older. This high median age is a good reason to consider the condition of the brake fluid and bleeding procedures when performing maintenance or repairs. Maintenance or repair
All-Wheel Drive Synergies for Brakes, Transmission and Transfer Case
There are very few all-mechanical controls left on late-model vehicles. Almost all powertrain controls are electromechanical, using a computer as the controller. These include powertrain control of the accelerator pedal with the latest being all-wheel drive (AWD). The brakes and damping also are electromechanical under electronic control. There are peripheral systems that are all computer-controlled,
Electronic Stability Control and the Role of Tires
Electronic stability control – ESC – introduced in 1995 and touted as the second most important advancement in auto safety after seat belts, will finally be standard equipment on all passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. starting in 2012. ESC is supposed to help drivers maintain safe control of their vehicles and prevent accidents. But
‘Breakfast Cruises’ Bring Added Customers to Tire Dealerships
Most red-blooded Americans will agree with me – many rather enthusiastically – that doughnuts are great, in almost any form. Even vegans enjoy a Boston Cream doughnut. And although most of the officers in blue I know cringe at the old jokes about cops and doughnuts, park a cruller near their cruiser and soon they’ll
Boost Sales by Building a Better E-Mail Campaign
E-mail marketing is a convenient and fast way to market your business to a large number of people at the same time. It’s beneficial to your business to send out e-mails on a consistent basis. If you’re not, you’re missing opportunities with your valued customers! E-mails are still the preferred way for consumers to receive
Ag and Forestry Tire Segments Offer Stability and Profits
For some very positive economic news, one needs to look no further than the agriculture and forestry markets. Although the two fared quite differently during the recession – farming remained fairly strong throughout 2008 and 2009, while logging saw a steep decline during that time – both segments are on a growth track now. This,
How Top Dealers Create and Protect Their Brands
There are scores of books and university courses on brands and branding. There is even a publication named Brandweek that covers the latest in branding and branding programs. But when most people think about “brand,” they envision a mega-company, like Coca-Cola or GM. Brands and branding, though, are equally important for small businesses, like tire