Stay Up to Date on Safety Cage Regulations
Truck tire service, especially the inflation process, can be dangerous or even fatal if not performed according to proper procedures. Due to the number of accidents associated with tire inflation, OSHA now mandates that all truck tires be inflated in an acceptable restraining device. The safety requirements for such devices, commonly called tire inflation safety
Sorting Through Nitrogen Inflation Options
Nitrogen in tires is no longer just for car enthusiasts and commercial vehicle fleets. Used for years in space shuttle and commercial aircraft tires, race car, military vehicle and off-road truck tires, nitrogen has become a popular replacement for standard air at many tire dealers. Among nitrogen’s advantages are improvements in tire pressure retention, improved
Spring Brings Plenty of Wiper Sales
Wiper blades are first and foremost a safety item. They improve visibility through a windshield obscured by rain, snow or even mud, giving the driver more time to see and react to traffic or road hazards. They come in a bewildering array of part numbers, brands-within-brands, and with many alternative ways of describing the components.
The Right Tire Service Tools Save Time
Tire service tools used to consist of a basic tool kit, tire iron, lug wrench and some repair materials – anything else was considered a luxury. No more. Time is money, and having the right tools for the task can make tire service easier and more efficient for technicians – saving time and money. It
Are Your Compressor Air Lines Leaking Profits?
As a tire dealer, you know the challenge of maintaining profits while facing ever-increasing costs. What you may not know is you can cut your compressed air costs substantially simply by updating your air piping system. Generating and maintaining compressed air is typically a tire shop’s second largest energy expense. A new, efficient air
Software Accounting Programs a Must
It is nearly impossible to remember a time when we did business without the advantage of computers and tire dealer accounting software. Those days are gone forever, with good riddance. Everyone in the field of business accounting software is making the task of operating your stores so much easier and far more precise. Instead of
Tire Repair Materials Keep Improving
Tire repair products just keep getting better and better. Did you know that aramid-reinforced radial tire repair units for radial OTR tires are five times stronger than steel? That’s what one maker of such patches claims. These patches are manufactured with fewer plies, yield greater strength, a more simplified installation and improved performance under the
Keep Customers Engaged With Showroom Displays
Tire companies and companies specializing in showroom displays aren’t spending time and money just for the fun of it. A really good tire display will literally cause customers to rub their hands over the tread and void areas of a tire. Why? Because they want to get a sense that this tire is safe, that
Hand Tools Still Needed to Service Today’s Vehicles
Sometimes it feels as if there is no better tool than the tried and true hammer. You’ll find a variety of them for sale under the heading dead blow hammers. Buy a high carbon steel head with a machine polished face and a top grade U.S. hickory handle, or if you want a polymer handled
Polishes, Waxes Vital for Perfect Detailing Job
When customers talk about detailing their car, they too often forget that proper washing, polishing and waxing are critical parts of the job. If you offer detailing services as part of your tire business, the list of car washing products, polishes and waxes can be staggering, but don’t panic. There are even products out there
Balancing: Compounds or Mechanical?
This is a tough question, since both balancing compounds and mechanical balancing get the job done. It all boils down to past performance, value and the money it costs to drive thousands of miles – and how these factors combine for major and small fleets. Many fleets have turned to what appears to be the
Intake Systems Offer Opportunity for Added Horsepower
When it comes to air filters, there is too much information to fit in this small space. But you should know about at least one application out there. K&N Engineering Inc. is heavily involved in the specialized kind of work built into its air intake units, which are designed to deliver added horsepower. In fact,