Perform Thorough Brake Jobs to Reduce Customer Comebacks
Brakes All shops want to see a customer again, but not for a brake comeback. What is the magic number of miles that can separate a comeback from a service situation? In my opinion, the minimum is 12,000 miles. Even installing new friction, rotors and calipers will not ensure a long-lasting brake job. The long-lasting
Product Spotlight: Lifts
The features and benefits of automotive lifts keep improving. With so many options to choose from – two-post, four-post, scissor, in-ground, above ground, etc. – making a selection can require quite a bit of research.BendPak said its new XPR-9FS is a full-featured, two-post lift sporting a 113-inch column height and a maximum rise of six
March 2011 Sales Intelligence
Covering Albany, N.Y., Fargo, N.D., Honolulu, Hawaii, Orlando Fla., Salt Lake City, Utah, and St. Louis, Mo., retail tire markets during the period of March 7-8. 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
Out of Control Costs Leave Little-to-Wrangle Higher Tire Prices
At TIA’s annual OTR Conference a few weeks ago, Shawn Rasey, president of Bridgestone Americas’ OTR unit, delivered some sobering news. Painfully sobering to thousands of tire dealers of all denominations in all places – everywhere. "As I speak to you this morning," Rasey said, "the price of natural rubber has risen 92% in just
Performing Oxygen Sensor, Catalytic Converter Repairs
It is a moral dilemma that many shops encounter on a regular basis. It starts when a good customer comes in with the check engine light ablaze. Running your usual diagnostics, you encounter a catalytic converter efficiency code, slow to respond oxygen sensor or some proprietary fuel trim code. Other than the light, the customer
Referral Programs Give Customers a Reason to Return
The worst number in marketing is one, and that’s because there’s no one single advertising magic bullet that will flood your showroom with red-hot leads ready to buy day after day.
Annual TIA OTR Conference Delivers Info, Networking, Weather
Over the years, the OTR tire segment has proven to be among the strongest supporters of TIA and the most interested in educational opportunities. That certainly was again the case with the 2011 TIA OTR Conference, where a near-record crowd gathered at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami. Prior to that panel discussion,
New TRIB MD Talks About Plans, Members and Association’s Role
Only David Stevens knows if he was prepared to step in as the new managing director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, a post he took over last November following the unpopular dismissal of the well-known and respected Harvey Brodsky. Certainly the 42-year-old should not have been the focus of those unhappy about
Frigid Temps Don’t Slow Giti Winter Tire Rollout
At a certain point, there is little difference between -5 degrees F and -20 degrees F. Cold is just cold, and warmer shelter is the only sane answer. Unless, of course, you’re banging around a parking lot trying out some winter tires. But McNamara warns drivers that four tires is the way to go. “Putting
With Fuel Costs on the Rise, Tires Play Important Role For Fleets
With diesel prices continuing to escalate to close to $4 per gallon this month, this is a great opportunity to talk about the impact of tires on fuel economy. The unrest in the Middle East is not going to end any time soon. Diesel prices will only get worse as we head into the spring
Sipes Deserve Credit For Tire Traction
They grab, grope and grip but somehow don’t grasp drivers’ gratitude for contributing to a safe ride on roadways. Sipes, sometimes called kerfs, are the narrowest slits found on tread patterns and are often overlooked when customers compare one tire’s attributes to another. A tread’s aggressive radial and lateral slots, which are wider than sipes,
Making the Transition to Non-Lead Wheel Weights
The days of lead wheel weights are numbered. While the federal Environmental Protection Agency has been slow to act, a number of state governments – California, Illinois, Washington, Maine, Vermont and New York – have banned the use of lead wheel weights. In addition, similar legislation is pending in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maryland and Rhode Island,