ACCC Looks to the Future for ‘Eco’ Program Concept
Over its 21-year history, American Car Care Centers has recognized a great deal of success with its business model. In fact, the Memphis, Tenn.-based marketing group’s 1,000-plus member dealers are some of the best in the business, according to ACCC president Len Lewin. But ACCC’s growth has been limited because of its policy of protecting
Keeping Race-Tuned Vehicles on the Road Requires Dedicated Tires
An eerily maniacal grin emanated from my buddy Steve Lobel’s face, giving me only a hint of what was to come. I arrived in the small burg of Canton, Ga., earlier that morning to see his car recently retrieved from the tuner shop Forged Performance just down the road in Marietta, outside of Atlanta.
Know Shocks, Struts Inside and Out to Improve Vehicle Handling
As a vehicle brakes, accelerates and corners, weight is transferred and the vehicle attitude changes. If done in a controlled manner, it can effectively transfer weight to the wheel that needs it the most. For the most part, the suspension handles the best when weight transfer is not sudden and the suspension is not compressed
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
ACCC Looks to the Future and Sees Eco Opportunity
Over its 21-year history, American Car Care Centers has recognized a great deal of success with its business model. In fact, its 1,000-plus member dealers are some of the best in the business, according to ACCC president Len Lewin. But ACCC’s growth has been limited because of its policy of protecting dealer and distributor
Tire-Destroying Drifters Raise Tire Hungry Crowds – and Opportunities
Clutch drops. Trail braking. Line. Feint. Tansou (speed attack) and Tsuiso (chase attack). Oversteer. Oh, and tire smoke. Lots and lots of tire smoke. Drifters blend the entertainment of flash driving with the discipline needed to control a car at 11/10ths just past the absolute limit of adhesion and into a
From Plant to Store, Today’s Tires Must be in Balance
Round and black was once the acceptable way to describe a tire. Today, most are still black, but car owners demand that they must be a lot rounder. What the consumer really wants is a tire that not only is round or concentric, but also perfectly balanced with uniform distribution of mass. The evolving need
Consider The Customer When Purchasing an Alignment Lift
If you do wheel alignment work, you need an alignment lift for raising vehicles off the ground. A lift is essential because you have to get under the vehicle to inspect the steering and suspension before you check the alignment. You can’t align worn parts, so it’s important to always make sure the tie rod
New Generation Bridgestone Potenza S001 UHP Tire
Bridgestone Corp. has launched a new flagship UHP tire aimed at the world’s top sports cars. The Potenza S001 is designed for maximum sports performance and, according to the company, can also offer high fuel efficiency/reduced rolling resistance at the same time. Already factory fitted on the Aston Martin Rapide and Ferrari F458 Italia, the
Interpreting Angles: The Important Relationship Between Caster, Camber and Toe
When talking about the big three in a vehicle’s suspension, caster is probably the hardest to visualize and the least mentioned. Camber and toe are much easier to wrap your head around, but it’s important that we understand caster because if we don’t, the customer may notice a diminished lack of handling. Perhaps caster can