SEMA Show 2007 Wrap-up
Missed the SEMA Show? We’ve got you covered – from the latest news and announcements to the hottest new tires and equipment.
ALI Elects Board, Shows New Site
(Akron/Tire Review) The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) re-elected Jerry Lentz of Challenger Lifts Inc. to a second term as chairman of its board during the association’s annual membership meeting, held recently in conjunction with the AAPEX and SEMA Shows.
Process of Elimination: To Get the Most Out of Your Bays, Make Every Step Matter
Here’s some of the freshest thinking available about getting the most out of your service bays. Maybe you have a limited amount of space. Maybe you’re adding a couple of new bays. Either way, wasted steps are out, effective use of space is in. With each new generation of equipment and people who count every
Get it Straight: Don’t Miss Out on Alignment Profits Due to Equipment Concerns
Being in this industry for as long as I have, I have watched businesses thrive on aftermarket wheels and tires. One thing I’ve noticed, however, is that many high-volume wheel businesses rarely offer alignments. This poses both a problem and an opportunity. The problem: While these businesses are turning out dozens of large tire and
Newest Spin: Modern Balancing Technology More Precise Than Ever
Since the 1970s, static balance has been at the head of the list among proving-grounds engineers. But, those machines had to take a back seat for decades as the complexities of vehicle suspension multiplied. Dynamic balance – the wave of the future – probably corrected more vehicle flaws than tire/wheel issues. Today, vehicle component technology
Real Balancing Act: Phasing Out Lead Wheel Weights May Change Balancing Forever
If you missed the news, it’s no longer legal to use lead wheel weights in Europe. So, what should that mean to you? Start planning now for the same thing to happen here. Already, wheel-weight maker Perfect Equipment Co. is producing zinc clip-on and steel adhesive wheel weights for GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler vehicles being
Beating Goliath: How Can Small Independent Tire Shop Compete
They have economies of scale, which gives them enormous buying power. They can afford national ad campaigns and expensive PR programs. They have ready access to the latest technologies to run their supply chains and streamline their operations. Relatively speaking, their overall costs are low. They are the national retailers, the mass merchants, the big-box
Ready for TPMS?: Final Rulemaking Will Happen Soon, and it Pays to Be Ready
Before the end of the decade, every vehicle you work on will be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Right now, every OEM in Detroit is putting a TPMS on at least one car line, and import models will also be suitably equipped. As much as the tire industry really didn’t like NHTSA’s
Style-Driven Service
Tire changer and wheel balancer manufacturers are adapting to the latest trends to help your service business keep up. In the tire and wheel business, style often comes before serviceability. As you know, large, low-profile tire and custom wheel sizes continue to proliferate. That’s bad news for the independent tire dealer who hasn’t invested in
Industry Report
Master contract talks between Bridgestone Americas Holding (BAH) and the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) shattered Nov. 13 after union negotiators walked out of a bargaining meeting claiming the company’s contract proposal was "so far off the mark" and setting the stage for a possible strike at BAH tire plants across North America.