Revised CAFE Standards Afford Tiremakers New Opportunities
In the August issue of Tire Review, I began to address Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for vehicles sold in the U.S. and what the legislation means for the tire industry. Now we’ll take a deeper look at how tire manufacturers are responding to changing legislation – and consumer demand – with their own
Know the Impact of CSA 2010 to Better Serve Fleet Customers
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) is in the process of rolling out its new Comprehensive Safety Analysis program. Commercial tire dealers who understand the ins and outs of the new initiative can take serious advantage of using the program to promote their dealership’s service and support for commercial trucking fleets. But first, let’s
Follow All-Season UHP Trends for Added Profits
In these days of slow recovery from economic doldrums, what tire dealer wouldn’t want to know more about a segment in which steady growth is nearly guaranteed? Add to that a high profit margin and an ever-expanding customer base, and the all-season UHP segment seems like a no-brainer. While being a player in this segment
Go Ahead and Wear It Out, It’s Your Issue
The stylized thumbprint on the stark front cover of this issue may seem an odd choice. But I can assure you the graphic selection was purely intentional. We could have gone a more traditional route with an altered photo or with cool icons as we have in past years. Perhaps a hand-drawn interpretation of the
2010 Market Influencers
For the past 11 years, Tire Review editors have brought attention to the companies, people, issues, products and circumstances that we think will have a significant impact on the North American tire market in the coming year. Sometimes right on and sometimes dead wrong, but always enlightening, Tire Review’s annual Market Influencers has become THE
2010 Market Profile
There’s no doubt that 2009 was a frustratingly horrible year for everyone in transportation-related industries. For every business – from carmakers and their dealers to parts stores and tire retailers to mining and farming – the downturn meant decreased production, reduced sales and, in some cases, lost marketshare. Huge cost pressures and reduced consumer spending
2010 Dealer Profile
While the size and structure of today’s independent dealer has not really changed, the Great Downturn of 2009 had a harsh impact on how independent tire dealers are doing business, particularly in expense, promotion and hiring areas. Tire Review’s Tire Dealer Profile Study is the industry’s most comprehensive and extensive research effort. To compile this
2010 Consumer Profile
Buyers. Customers. The people who make your cash register sing. You think you know them. In fact, you count on that and the long-term business that kind of relationship means. But do you really know what they think? About you or the brands you carry? How they approach the tire and service buying experience? What
2010 Brand Study
Certainly tire dealers and the brands they represent and offer go hand-in-hand. Dealers depend on the “value” of the brands they sell, and tire companies depend on dealers to carry their branding and marketing message to the consuming public. For that relationship to thrive, tire brands must deliver the product quality, technical innovation, fill rate,
Drivers Can Help Fleet Tire Budgets
Drivers can play a significant role in a fleet’s tire program. Simply giving new drivers a one-time ‘Tires 101’ crash course is just not enough. With the proper training, drivers can be your best resource by becoming the fleet’s early warning system for potential tire issues. The morning driver walk-around needs to include a serious
Disaster Preparedness: Plan to Survive
Recent events have shown that if your company is to survive a disaster, you must develop a plan for business recovery. Many businesses have contingency plans in place to help them recover from natural events like floods and hurricanes, but who actually plans for computer viruses, fires or worse? The key is to have a
No Longer in the Passenger Seat: Women’s Influence in Automotive
Coyne PR has worked with some of the leading brands in the automotive industry and helping them attain their goals and objectives, including marketing effectively to women. For the last five years, it has also had the honor of working with one of the leading experts in the field of women’s automotive and marketing to