COMMERCIAL TIRE SERVICE GETS A NEW LOOK by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Training
In the next sentence, I’m going to use a word without reservation or regret. Triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number 13, has never been a problem for me. But, it has deep roots in religion, architecture (where buildings and elevators do not contain floors labeled 13), cities (where 13th avenue is replaced by another name), commercial passenger aircraft (no 13th row), and Formula 1 racing (which hasn’t had a number 13 car since 1974). This little bit of trivia (courtesy of Wikipedia) demonstrates how many people just aren’t willing to take a chance with something like the number 13. For TIA, the number has great significance, because the Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Training and Certification Program was born 13 years ago in April of 1996...
TIA PAVILION ADDED TO COMMERCIAL TIRE AND RETREAD CONFERENCE by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Training
My first official duty as the Commercial Tire Service Director of the old ARA was to attend the trade show in Louisville, Kentucky (which would later become my home). Since my father was a member of the ARA, my only impression of the trade show was based on what I read in the old Retreader’s Journal. It was much bigger in person...
TIA PRESIDENT DANIEL L. BEACH by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Training
Some people are born to follow, and others are born to lead. TIA President Daniel Beach definitely falls into thelatter category, so the membership can be confident in his abilities to guide the association through the next 12 months. As someone raised by parents who owned and operated their own businesses, Dan readily admits that he was never comfortable “working for someone” and was destined to carve out his own path in the world...
TIA GOES HOLLYWOOD IN LAS VEGAS by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Training
While we enjoyed the past couple of years at Caesars Palace, it became necessary to make a change, so the Board voted to select the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas as the location for TIA activities in 2008. In April 2007, the world-famous Aladdin Hotel officially became Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, a Sheraton Resort. Since the grand opening, Planet Hollywood has hosted a number of movie premieres and served as the backdrop for several movies based in Las Vegas. To say Hollywood has embraced Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas is a tremendous understatement...
Basic Earthmover Tire Service by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Training
While a certain degree of danger accompanies every type of tire and wheel service, nothing is more hazardous than a fully inflated earthmover or off-the-road (OTR) tire. The sheer weight of the tire alone is enough to cause a serious or fatal injury, so the combination of compressed air and steel rim components – that often weigh more than 100 pounds – just make matters worse when a technician is poorly trained...
The New Look of Extended Mobility by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Training
It’s a tough time to be in the automotive business right now since the economy appears to be headed for a prolonged recession. That’s good news for the automotive aftermarket as drivers will be more likely to repair their old vehicles and forego new car purchases. However, it can also be bad news because when the dollars tighten in the average household, vehicle maintenance becomes one of the first cuts in the budget so dealers go back into the business of “fixing” cars...
Tire Repair for Truckers by Glenn Kinyon - Contributing Editor
My whole life is one long Seinfeld episode. Time and again someone will misunderstand what I say or misinterpret in a negative way something they saw me doing - or think they saw me doing - and often, when I discover what has happened, the explanation of the truth is so confusing or so difficult to put to words that I'm reduced to relegating the incident to fate and letting it go. But there are times when failing to resolve such a misunderstanding is too expensive to consider.
The supervisor at a trucking company that I service once told me with no little annoyance that they had to remove a tire that I had repaired from service. The driver was angry that I'd "plugged" his tire and he refused to drive on it...
Tools of the Trade by Sean MacKinnon - TIA Director of Automotive Training Development
My wife and I have recently bought our first home, and we are very excited about our new purchase. The excitement rests on two levels. First, we finally have a place of our own to raise our son. Second, I get to buy power tools! For years I have been bugging my wife that I need a miter saw. Of course, she would reply “What the hell do you need a miter saw for? We don’t even own a house!” Ahh, touché. However, now that we own a home, the battle for the miter saw has resumed (I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted on my progress). Nevertheless, in order to complete certain projects in or around the home, you need the proper tools. The same holds true in any retail tire shop...
Operating and maintaining a competitive retail tire shop requires a huge investment in tools and equipment With that said, we are now entering a new era in the industry that I like to call, the “Age of the Sensor.” In order to successfully service today’s vehicles with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), purchasing a scan tool is a necessity. But what tool do you purchase?
Commercial Tire, Retread & Recycling Conference Moves to Orlando with TMC by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
When we decided to team up with the Annual Meeting of the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), our goal was to provide the commercial tire dealers and retreaders with an event that they could call their own. After all, the retailers have SEMA in Las Vegas and the off-the-road (OTR) guys have had an annual conference for 50 years. But the reality is the commercial and retread market is simply not big enough to sustain its own convention and trade show, so something had to change...
TIA President - Peggy Fisher by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
When we decided to feature the incoming TIA President in the November issue of this publication years ago, it was both an honor and a bit stressful to write the story. My goal has always been to give TIA members a chance to see what type of person has risen to the top elected spot in the organization. In order to achieve this in the past, I would send a brief questionnaire to each individual and then craft what I hoped was an interesting story about them and how they’ve reached the position of TIA President.
But this year is different. Unlike previous articles, I don’t need a questionnaire to learn more about the next TIA President, Peggy Fisher. As the President of U.S. operations for TireStamp, Peggy works with the largest and most progressive fleets on a daily basis...
PTW at SEMA: The Future of Tire Retailing by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
Like it or not, the demands of today’s passenger and light truck tire consumer are changing at a breakneck pace. From the middle-aged parents who need to be reminded they’re due for every oil change or tire rotation to the 16-25 year-olds that require a custom rim specialist who can offer the latest styles and designs, the tire business will never be the same as it was just a few years ago. That’s why every retail tire dealer should make plans to attend the Performance Tires & Wheels (PTW) Show during SEMA, October 29 to November 2, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Heat Damage to Disc Wheels by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
While life doesn’t offer many guarantees, using a restraining device during the inflation of a truck tire will almost eliminate the chances of suffering a serious or fatal injury. The most unfortunate part of my job is the investigation of accidents involving tires and TIA Certified Technicians. Even though I cannot provide details, I can say that a safety cage was not used during any of the incidents involving a tire in the process of inflation. And I can also say that in the eleven years of working for the Association, I’ve never heard of an accident where a separating tire killed someone when it was in the restraining device. A few people have been injured, but that’s because they had the cage too close to the wall or it was previously damaged...
Small Business Health Plans by Roy Littlefield - TIA Executive Vice President
Working in a coalition with the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC), a top legislative priority for TIA is passage of Congressional association health care plans (AHP). And in addition to that challenging effort, I am very excited to announce that TIA will soon release a defined health benefit plan as our newest membership benefit...
Tire Safety Starts Here by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
The key to success for any brand is recognition. When consumers think of a specific product or service, the names that they look for are typically the ones considered recognized brands. Think of $5 for Starbucks coffee and $100 for Nike shoes instead of gas station coffee and no-name shoes. TIA members have made a tremendous statement to the industry in the past decade. It’s mind boggling to imagine the investment in man hours and materials that some members have made over that time to maintain TIA Certification for their employees. We met with some of these companies a few years ago and as a result of those meetings, the Tire Safety Starts Here campaign was born...
The Year of the International Tire Dealer - President Paul Hyatt by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
Each year, the Presidency of TIA changes hands and another industry leader takes the next step in giving something back to the Association. Being President requires additional time over and above what is normally expected of a volunteer board member, yet every year another tire dealer knowingly takes the reins. It’s a cycle that has continued for decades and includes more than one hundred individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to serving the membership. Our new TIA President, Paul Hyatt, of Superior Tire in Toronto, Canada, is another clear example of someone who exemplifies the willingness to donate his time for the betterment of others...
PTW RETURNS TO CAESARS by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
Marketers are constantly surveying consumers on buying habits, and I’ve found out they’re willing to pay with goods or cash to get your opinion. My wife is an online survey addict and I used to give her a hard time about it until the free paper towels, plastic bags, and frozen pizzas started showing up... When it comes to surveying people for conventions and meetings, the perennial winner is definitely Las Vegas, Nevada. Some may think that Orlando, Florida might give Vegas a run, but the statistics tell a different story. Before I get sidetracked with more useless statistics on why Las Vegas is so popular for conventions, let’s take a look at what TIA has planned for this year’s event...
Your Voice in Government by Paul Fiore - TIA Director of Government and Business Relations Government affairs. The phrase just hangs in the air with a paradoxical sense of seriousness and absurdity that can cast a pall over any casual conversation. We hope that every TIA member has a glimmer of acknow-ledgement that our government functions with a level of citizen participation and that we represent your business interests. However, we admit that many people still feel helpless because “nothing ever changes” and “unless you have big money, no one ever listens to you.” So, the idea of an article about government affairs presents some serious challenges...
Making Time for TPMS by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services In case you haven’t read this publication for the past two issues, the federal government has passed legislation that mandates TPMS on every vehicle under 10,000 lbs GVWR starting September 2007. It’s not an option for consumers who purchase new vehicles after that date, nor is it an option for tire dealers and service providers who install or repair passenger and light truck tires. TPMS is the law and if the laws are not followed, the penalties could be severe. Those points alone should be enough to justify the shift in approach, yet there will still be some that refuse to recognize the opportunity and responsibility that TPMS creates...
Future Retreading by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services A few years ago, the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) began an initiative known as “Future Truck.” The goal was to create a forum where fleets could gather and conduct “blue sky” thinking on how trucks and their various components should perform. As an active member of TMC for the past decade, I’ve participated in this endeavor since its inception, so I have first hand experience in this type of activity. I’m going to dedicate this space to giving everyone a sense of how this approach would address the subject of retreading....
The State of TPMS by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
There's no sense in discussing the road that has taken us to where we are today with TPMS because the number of vehicles with this technology is only going to increase. In the last issue of this publication, I introduced our new TPMS Training Program and judging from the record number of kits flying out the door, a lot of dealers are faced with the challenges of valve stem sensors and relearn procedures. I also indicated that TIA wasn't finished with TPMS education and will continue to provide members with the latest information as it becomes available. As a member of TIA, you receive this publication every other month and when it comes to TPMS technology, a lot can change in two months...
Making Better Roads by Mary Sikora - TIA Tire Recycling Director
The New England Rubber Modified Asphalt & Civil Engineering Workshop, held in Providence, Rhode Island, October 20-21, 2005, drew officials from the Federal Highway Administration and the Departments of Transportation from six northeastern states in a first-ever event focused on the use of crumb rubber in pavement and road construction applications in the northeast region.
TPMS for Tire Dealers by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor & TIA Senior Vice President of Education & Technical Services
Self-help books have been around for a long time, but the movement has definitely gotten out of hand when there's a Bird Watching for Dummies. Come to find out, there are hundreds of Dummies books on everything from aquariums to yoga. Since we don't have a Dummies book for tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), TIA has developed the first in a series of educational programs to train dealers on how this new technology will affect their companies. Our goal is to make sure TIA members have continuous access to the latest information on servicing all types of original equipment and aftermarket TPMS...
“A Tire Dealer’s Tire Dealer” TIA President Bob Malerba
Independent tire dealers and retreaders have been the backbone of TIA membership for decades, and your new President is definitely one of them. Like many industry leaders, Bob Malerba was raised in a family business that did everything from passenger car tires to commercial retreads. In fact, his first job was to sweep floors and carry 75-pound boxes of camelback rubber up to the second floor retread shop, and by the time he reached 11 years old, he was riding with road service technicians to “help.” Industry veterans often refer to his father, G. William Malerba, a 1992 Tire Industry Hall of Fame Inductee, as a “tire dealer’s tire dealer,” and Bob is well on his way to continue that legacy.
TIA Selects Caesars Palace as Host Hotel
for Performance Tires & Wheels
Choosing a host hotel for TIA’s Annual Meeting and Performance Tires & Wheels (PTW) trade show usually comes down to one of two issues: familiar or new? For those that favor the familiar approach, knowing the approximate location of the meeting and the breakfast means fewer minutes wandering the labyrinth of a typical Las Vegas casino/hotel. Those that prefer a new property enjoy the change of scenery and look forward to exploring the various shops and restaurants. Regardless of the approach, sometimes you don’t have a choice...
Tire Fees and Recycling: How Does Your State Compare?
by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Services
While I can’t remember the exact day that I first explained the Tire User Fee (TUF), I do recall thousands of customers who wanted to know what the TUF charge represented. “The State of Illinois passed a law that requires all tire dealers to collect a $1 per tire TUF to fund recycling and clean-up operations. We don’t see any of that money and it all goes to the state. The separate disposal fee is what we pay to have the tires removed because we can’t send them to the landfill.” Sound familiar?
Certified ATS Raises the Bar
When TIA introduced the Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Program in early 2004, one of the goals was to improve the image of the industry through technician education. Even though the public perception of "tire busters" has contributed to the problem, a culture change was also necessary within the dealerships themselves. In other words, it's almost impossible for technicians to earn the respect of customers when they have difficulty getting it in their own industry...
Telling
Your Story by
Roy Littlefield - TIA Executive Vice President
On March 1st the Tire Industry Association (TIA) hosted a luncheon
at the Capitol Hill Club with the Honorable Donald Manzullo
(R- IL), Chairman of the House Small Business Committee. Following
the lunch, two busloads of industry representatives went to
the Old Executive Office Building for a very informative White
House briefing session. That evening, TIA members joined forces
with over 400 members of related automotive aftermarket associations
for a Capitol Hill reception with members of Congress and their
staffs...
TIA
Releases Tire Conditions Manual by
Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior Vice President
of Education and Technical Services After years of hard work
from a dedicated group of volunteers, TIA is proud to announce
the release of the Passenger and Light Truck Tire Conditions
Manual. This 200-page reference manual includes more than
70 different tire conditions and almost 300 color photos.
Protect Your Brand, Protect Your Business by
Peter Gunst TIA Counsel
Trademark issues increasingly impact small and local businesses.
As the Internet develops into an effective advertising medium,
Mom and Pop brands are finding that their well-established
local brand names may infringe upon the names of pre-existing
brands located in other markets. If not for the Internet,
these businesses might never have learned of each other. Now,
many companies may find themselves having to rebrand their
businesses to avoid confusion with previously unknown competitors....
The World Tire Expo (WTE) Returns to Louisville The
industry’s premier show for commercial tire dealers,
retreaders and recyclers returns to Louisville, Kentucky on
April 20-22, 2005 at the Kentucky International Convention
Center. Located in the heart of downtown Louisville, the exhibit
hall and workshops are just a short walk away from the conference
hotels. Attendees to the show in 2003 commented that the proximity
of restaurants and entertainment made it the perfect place
to mix business with pleasure.
Finding
the Hidden Damage
by Marvin Bozarth
- TIA Senior Technical Consultant
There is little doubt that the most abused components on any
motor vehicle are the tires. They are subject to an almost unbelievable
variety of operating conditions, and in many cases, receive
very little maintenance. The largest responsibility falls on
the tire service technician. Some of the damage to tires is
very visible, but in many cases problems can be hidden deep
inside the components of the tire making them very difficult
to find...
TIA Off-the-Road Conference – A Golden Anniversary It’s difficult to imagine that a group of OTR
tire manufacturers, suppliers and dealers met for the first
time 50 years ago. Technology has come a long way since then,
and this year’s TIA OTR Conference, February 24-26 at
the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona,
is going to feature a historical journey that documents the
changes that have taken place...
Performance
Tires & Wheels -
The Hottest Trend in the Automotive Aftermarket
by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior
Vice President of Education and Technical Services When you look at the numbers related to the automotive aftermarket
industry, the figures are staggering. According to a survey
of exhibitors from last year's SEMA Show, 25.8% felt that performance
tires and wheels were the hottest trend in the industry... 96.7%
of the most influential buyers are under the age of 36. Take
a good look at the parking lots in the local high schools and
colleges or the vehicles featured in music videos. The abundance
of custom tire and wheel packages should be enough to convince
the average tire dealer that this trend is here to stay...
USPS: A Good Plan for Retreading? How Government Affairs Works for You by Becky MacDicken - TIA
Director of Government Affairs In November 2003, TIA received word that
the USPS was planning to leverage their retreading contracts
into one, large-scale contract. Our retread members were extremely
concerned. TIA and the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB)
jumped into action to stop what we perceived as a huge mistake
by the USPS. The USPS may not have agreed but they were willing
to listen.
Certified ATS Kicks Off
by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior VicePresident of
Education and Technical Services
Before the TIA merger became official in July of 2002, the newly
formed Board of Directors voted to create a technician training
and certification program for retail tire dealers that would
compliment the successful Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Program
for truck tire dealers. With more than 14,000 industry personnel
to its credit, CTS has revolutionized education in the industry;
TIA is poised to do it again with the ATS program.
TIA
is on the Move by
Roy Littlefield - TIA Executive Vice President It is an exciting opportunity to be part of a great association
with such rich history. It’s even more exciting to be part
of a dynamic, growing association in a diversified and strong
industry. TIA is blessed with strong leadership, phenomenal
member support, a Strategic Plan and a tremendous staff.
“The Legend” Keeps Climbing Off-Road Racer Walker
Evans to Keynote Annual OTR Conference
Tire manufacturers participate in racing for a variety of reasons.
Besides the marketing potential and the old saying, “Win
on Sunday, sell on Monday,” there’s also a certain
degree of technology that is the direct result of what happens
on the track. Tire manufacturers can also take advantage of
the affiliation that fans have with their favorite drivers.
With more than 142 victories and 21 championship titles, off-road
racer Walker Evans is considered a legend...
Tire Recycling Legislation — More Important Than Ever
by Mary Sikora - TIA Director
of Tire and Rubber Recycling
From its founding days, the Tire Industry Association's (TIA)
Tire and Rubber Recycling Advisory Council (TRRAC) has identified
sound legislative and regulatory policies as key components
to fulfilling its mission of "ensuring the long term viability
of tire and rubber recycling, while pursuing economic and environmental
benefits."
TIA President Larry Morgan Takes the Wheel
Each year in Las Vegas at the International Tire Expo (ITE)/SEMA
Show, another member of the Tire Industry Association (TIA)
Board assumes the role of President. Without getting into the
detailed mechanics of the election process, the TIA President
is ultimately selected by his or her peers on the Board of Directors.
To some, it’s the culmination of years of service and dedication
to the industry. To others, it almost happens by accident. Larry
Morgan definitely fits into the second of those two categories...
Tire Industry Hall of Fame Welcomes Two New Members
The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor, preserve and perpetuate
the names and outstanding accomplishments of personalities who
have brought lasting fame to the tire, rubber and transportation
industries. Past inductees include Harvey Firestone, Charles
Goodyear, Andre Michelin, John Dunlop, Les Schwab and Ernest
Zielasko. The Hall of Fame is open to all in the tire industry,
including manufacturers, inventors, publishers, equipment suppliers,
tire dealers and retreaders...
Five Ways to Sabotage Your Business
by Nancy Friedman
Believe it
or not, there are many ways to sabotage your business. Chances
are, your staff is doing some of them now without you even knowing
it. Worse yet, you’ve probably heard some of the examples
that follow. That’s the bad news. The good news is, through
our many Telephone Doctor surveys, we’re able to identify
the Top Five sabotage practices and then show you how to neutralize
their effects...
The Top 10 Reasons to Attend ITE in Las Vegas
by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior
VicePresident of Education and Technical Services When
I was younger, thinner and had a lot more energy, I always stayed
awake at night long enough to hear David Letterman’s “Top
10” list. While Dave didn’t invent “Top 10”
lists, he has definitely made them a permanent part of modern
pop culture. The other day, someone asked me why he should attend
the International Tire Expo (ITE) in Las Vegas this November.
It didn’t take me long to rattle off a number of benefits
that companies can receive by having their employees attend,
because so many people have told me they always learn something,
much like I do, at every convention. After our conversation,
I thought of a few more and decided to write them down. Pretty
soon, I had my own “Top 10” list of reasons why Tire
Industry Association (TIA) members should attend ITE...
Retread Wars: Battle of the Extruders
by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior
VicePresident of Education and Technical Services Hi, and welcome to Retread Wars, I’m Val Ken-Eiser.
In today’s competition, two teams of four people will put
together a retread plant from scratch (mold cure or precure)
and produce 100 retreads in just 24 hours. They have access
to all types of technology in the special “equipment and
tool bone yard” with the necessary rubber for any combination
of mold cure and precure processes in each plant... There’s
the starting gun!
TIA Enters the Age of Web-Based Training
by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior
Vice President of Education and Technical Services Every segment of the tire industry has its own history
of training employees. For the first time in the history of
the industry, every retail tire dealer with Internet access
can receive unlimited web-based training for passenger and light
truck tire service technicians.
The combination of the TIA web-based Basic ATS training
program and the database gives every size company the ability
to have a complete educational system for passenger and light
truck tire service technicians. Web-based
training is a giant leap in technology for any organization,
but TIA is committed to providing it as an unlimited-access
member service...
Tire Advertising:A Common
Sense Approach
by Jim Pascover - Contributing Editor In
the twenty years I have been calling on tire dealers with regard
to their retail tire advertising, I have encountered every type
of advertiser. Some spent too much on advertising; more didn’t
spend enough. Most spent incorrectly or inefficiently. Some
were consistent advertisers; most were not. Some, like the parents
of an only child, tried advertising once and didn’t like
it. But with all the variation, most tire dealers fell into
one of two categories...
Under the Insurance Microscope
by Kevin Rohlwing - Editor and TIA Senior
Vice President, Education & Technical Services
TIA has created an Insurance Task Force
(ITF) to address the issue of rising costs for every segment
of the tire industry. The ITF will conduct a survey to assess
the short- and long-term problems facing tire dealers, retreaders,
recyclers, suppliers and manufacturers...
Roads and Tires – Testing Together
by Marvin Bozarth - TIA Senior Senior Technical
Consultant
Road building requires a lot of research, and there is extensive
variance in the performance and life expectancy of different
road surfaces. On a recent trip, I had the opportunity to visit
the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn
University in Opelika, Alabama. Since its inception in 1986,
the Center has engaged in practical research on hot mix asphalt
used to build roads. Many state and federal agencies throughout
the world look to this research facility for evaluation of new
technology to improve roads...
Setting the Record Straight by Glenn Kinyon - Contributing Editor
When I was a rookie, older guys told me things – strange
things – about tire service. I believed those things years
afterward; things that ultimately turned out to be complete
horse-puckey. Now, by way of epiphany, I am a wise and noble
TIA Certified Instructor of all things tire service. Brothers
and sisters, I seek redemption for past transgressions. Therefore,
it is my desire – no, my destiny – to ease the tortured
mind of the tire novice...
Capitol Comments By Becky MacDicken - TIA
Director of Government Affairs
The tire industry is beginning to feel the effects of the Transportation
Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD)
Act. Various provisions have been implemented while the industry
stands waiting on several more final rules. So where does the
industry stand on the major components of the TREAD Act, and
what will it mean for tire dealers and retreaders?
Radial Truck Tire Bead Distortion: How Much is too Much? By Marvin Bozarth - TIA Senior Technical Consultant
Today’s
steel radial medium truck tires are, in my opinion, some of
the highest quality products manufactured for the transportation
industry. In terms of safety and economical value, these tires
provide exceptional service and carry ever-heavier loads for
greater distances at speeds unthinkable just a few years ago...
Analyst Saul Ludwig paints an intimate portrait of the tire
industryby
Bob Ulrich Look
for increases in consumer and commercial tires at the replacement
level in 2003. As for major consolidations, 'it will be a while...'
(This article was used with the kind permission of Modern Tire
Dealrer)
