Industry Report
‘A Transformational year’
Serving the Servants: Hard Work and Supplier Support Can Bring In The Business
Serving the Servants Hard Work and Supplier Support Can Bring In The Business In one of his TV commercials, a Northeast Ohio tire dealer tells a story about a customer who completely abuses his vehicle. The customer is always "tromping on the accelerator," and he "probably is always on the brakes," the dealer laments. The
That First Step
It’s been another tough year for the economy and the tire industry. All you have to do is look at tire shipments. Dealers I’ve spoken to tell me their businesses are up one month and down the next. Consumer confidence appears to be on the same roller coaster.
Virtually Trained
Virtually Trained Different tactics may be the key to training in the tire industry. Within the tire industry, most dealers will say there’s a serious need for training. Either training on new equipment or products, or training for continuous improvement. Rare is it that a dealer feels he knows everything there is to know
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,
Eagle with Treds: Goodyear Calls F1 ‘The Most Sophisticated Eagle Ever’
Goodyear Calls F1 ‘The Most Sophisticated Eagle Ever’
From the Track to the Rack
From the Track to the Rack Racing tires, like passenger car tires, are specialized for different applications and purposes. Every form of racing has its own speed, traction and handling needs that require specially designed tires. A Formula 1 car obviously needs a different type of tire than a NASCAR racer or a NHRA Top
Big Enough?
Big Enough? As the diameters of performance tires increase, manufacturers have to walk the fine line between function and fantasy You’re walking along the show floor at the International Tire Expo in Las Vegas. You pass a seemingly endless collection of cars and tires. Wheels shimmer on display. Parts and accessories abound. And the people
Advancing Technology
Advancing Technology High tech manufacturing has made inroads in many industries, and tiremaking is no exception. Though robotics has not displaced traditional tire building techniques on a large scale, it’s use is certainly growing. Making a tire is a labor-intensive process for a variety of reasons. A tire consists of many individual components that all
Trackside Confessions
Francesco Gori shifts nervously in his cane-back seat, carefully surveying the scenes around him. Behind us, 50 or so U.S. dealers take hot laps around Pirelli’s Vizzola proving grounds. In front, testy caterers are tearing down tables and trying to stack chairs, including the two we’re occupying. The man in charge of Pirelli’s world-wide tire