All the Angles
Right Equipment and Knowing What to Look for Cures Alignment Complaints Four-wheel alignments are commonplace in today’s service bays. Even light-duty, 4WD SUVs, such as Honda’s CR-V and Toyota’s RAV4, have independent rear suspensions with both camber and toe adjustments. Even solid, rear-axle vehicles require an alignment head on all four wheels. Without considering rear
April Foolishness
The problem with having a regular column is that people expect you to write some- thing profound. To wax philosophic on the state of things or a subject of import. And to use big words like "philosophic." Truth is, it’s hard to organize 800 perfectly chosen words into coherent thought. After the last few months,
The Forgotten Valve Stem
The Forgotten Valve Stem If industry pundits are right, you can expect to see EPDM (ethylene propylene) snap-in valves give way to aluminum clamp-in valves in the near future. But they may make a comeback. Confusing isn’t it? Credit the expected change to the TREAD Act and its TPMS imperative to carmakers. By 2007, all
Rema North America Celebrates 50 Years
In today’s business climate, many companies are wondering if they’ll still be around 50 weeks from now. Maybe even 50 days. That’s why, when companies celebrate a 50th anniversary – as Rema Tip Top/North America did on Mar. 11 ®€“ people take notice.
Running in Tandem
Running in Tandem Fleet & Dealer Partnerships: Creativity, Dedication and Trust Help Both Sides in Today’s Brutal Market Sometimes a story sounds too good to be true. Listen to what fleet owner Duane Acklie from Omaha, Neb., has to say about spending money with tire dealers. "When I spend money with today’s sophisticated, creative tire
Back Home Again
Back after a one-year hiatus, the World Tire Expo returns with a wide range of educational programs, special events and trade show opportunities. This will also be the first WTE under the Tire Industry Association.
The Other Side
Looking at Jobber Relationship Problems Could Provide Answers We receive many comments from tire dealers regarding their relationships with suppliers – tire companies, wholesalers and parts jobbers alike. Recently, Gary Goms, owner of Midland Engine Electronics & Diagnostics in Buena Vista, Colo., and a contributing writer for our sister magazine, Counterman, discussed such relationship problems
Half a World Away
Like his American counterparts, Tire Town Komaoka store manager Yuji Asuke puts in long hours – 12 to 14 Monday through Saturday. But unlike many one-store American dealers, Asuke pulls in $1.3 million in annual sales with just himself and two other full-time employees.
TIA Has a Solid Plan
Throughout history, humans have turned tragedy into triumph. We mourn and move forward, learning from our missteps and finding better, safer results. The Hindenberg disaster gave us safer air travel and a new industry – airlines. Titanic’s fate gave us safety procedures employed on cruise ships to this day. 9/11 has tightened travel security. Yes,
Fins To The Left…
Sharks, as that nautical wheeler Jimmy Buffet reminds, are everywhere. And so this horror story of lawyers gone wild should be a lesson to all. California is renowned for its misdirected concerns – where else can 14 million people all drive at the same time, yet everyone worry about smoking in bars? – and goofy