Pace of Change
Michelin North America has declared 2004 to be the "Year of Performance," so there couldn’t have been a better way to start its ultra-high performance push than to give trade and enthusiast journalists a taste of real performance ®€“ on the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, Spain
DeWine and Da Roses
Was Sen. Mike DeWine that far off base to suggest consumers should know how "new" their new tires really are? Yes, there is that whole cart-before-the-horse argument about needing scientific evidence of the impact of age on tire performance before getting consumers all cranked up. But, this is the 21st century, and I’d suggest tiremakers
Industry Report
RMA Cuts Support After Court Ruling Hopes for a tire industry checkoff program were dealt a couple of significant ®€“ potentially fatal ®€“ blows in late February after yet another court ruled that a popular checkoff program’s consumer education effort was unconstitutional, and the RMA withdrew support for the proposed program.
Field of Vision: ACCC’s Largest-Ever Dealer Event Looks at Past, Future Success
ACCC’s Largest-Ever Dealer Event Looks at Past, Future SuccessIn a century-old industry, 15 years doesn’t seem like much. But to an entrepreneurial business ®€“ whether a single retail store or alliance of successful dealers ®€“ 15 years is a long time.
Industry Report
Reports Say Georgia Site of Planned Toyo PlantIt’s existing capacity stretched to the limit, Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. took a giant step forward, announcing on Feb. 17 plans for a new $150-million passenger and light truck/SUV tire plant that would come on stream in 2006. News reports out of Atlanta in early February indicated the company received approval to build the plant in Bartow County, Ga., about 60 miles north of Atlanta. Toyo said the plant would have the capacity to produce two million consumer tires per year.
All New Lines
Goodyear & Michelin Betting on Success With Assurance and X-IceHailed as the company’s "most important new product" since it launched the original Aquatred line over a decade ago, Goodyear unveiled its much-anticipated new line of passenger tires, known as Assurance, the day before its annual dealer meeting in Orlando, Fla. earlier this month. In fact, the new Assurance line will replace the Aquatred 3, launched just three years ago.
Industry Report
Working its way out from under a $728,000 deficit, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) is closing its Louisville, Ky., offices and training center and consolidating all of its operations at the association’s headquarters in Bowie, Md. The move was announced Jan. 12 and is effective as of Feb. 1.
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
Despite posting third quarter losses of $105.9 million, with the anticipation of further negatives in the fourth quarter, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. officials insist that its cost-cutting moves are on track to help turn around the financially struggling tire giant.
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.