Aeolus and Alliance Set to Expand With Green Production, Enhanced Products
Aeolus Tyre Co. Ltd., based in Jiaozuo, Henan Province, is working hard to separate itself from what its leadership describes as the typical Chinese tiremaker stereotype. Ranked the fifth largest tire manufacturer in China in terms of sales – and the country’s top tiremaker in 2010 in terms of growth – Aeolus is a true
Taking Good-Better-Best to Good-Better
The head of massive Middle East tire distributor Al Dobowi Group is virtually unknown on these shores. But the chairman, Surender Singh Kandhari, may understand the tire business far better than many of his American counterparts. Kandhari apparently stunned more than a few people with his recent assertion that, in his view, there is no
‘Proper Market Surveillance’ Lacking Says ETRMA
In its 2010-11 annual report, the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association reports on what it calls the "dominant sentiment amongst industry leaders" – enhancing, or at the very least maintaining, the competitiveness of its member companies.
Sellin’ Tires is Easy With Today’s Prices!
Dealers are certainly a bunch of complainers. All I ever hear any more is "Price increase this…" and "Price increase that…" It was as though their suppliers were trying to cut into their business or something! So there have been a few price hikes along the way. Bumps in the road, I say. It’s not
Do Rebates Draw Customers?
Received a question from a reader regarding whether consumer rebate promotions really work. Our dealer friend wondered if the offer of a straight rebate or a debit card actually helped drivers choose one brand of tire over another – or to even buy new tires in the first place. So we posed the question to
N.J. Dealer Pairs Music, Tires in Unique Event
Selling tires is a passion few will ever understand. Playing the bassguitar is a passion even fewer of us will ever truly appreciate. JoelCaplan, owner/partner of BC Tire, based in Piscataway, N.J., not onlyunderstands and appreciates these two passions, he’s found a way toincorporate them both into a grassroots marketing effort that paiddividends to his
Michelin Adds New BFGoodrich T/A for Work and Play
More than a year in the making, Michelin North America finally took the wraps off of the BFGoodrich Rugged Terrain T/A, the latest BFG-brand light truck/SUV radial. And this new tire, said MNA, is all work and all play. The tire was originally slated for a 2010 introduction, but production was rescheduled when demand increases
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,
IndyCar’s Silly Season Starts Early With Firestone Announcement
I can’t say I was surprised when my Blackberry buzzed to life late Friday with the news that Bridgestone Americas was closing the book on its IndyCar racing involvement. The writing was on the wall in January when the company passed on renewing its relationship with what’s left of American open wheel racing. And besides,
RTA Welcomes 14 New Members
The Retread Tire Association has added another batch of new members to its ranks. These companies include: Bray’s Recapping Service Inc., Mt. Airy, N.C.; Eer Ltd., Hebron, Conn.; Hankook Tire America Corp., Wayne, N.J.; Intyre, Belgium; Kokubu Shokai Co., Tokyo, Japan; Llads Ventures, Conestoga, Pa.; Ohio Machine & Manufacturing Co. Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.; Pneus