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AUGUST 2013
CONTENTS Volume 113 | No. 08
42
36
24
Columns & Departments ■ FIRST LOOK: TireReview.com
Brake Myths + Apollo-Cooper + Online Reviews | 6
■ COMMENTARY: First Off - Final Final Finally? The Car Side - Sweet, Sweet Dreams
52
■ NEWSMAKERS: New ContiTread Retread Facility Opens in S.C. TBC Showcases Sailun Products Focus is on Firestone Truck Tires Goodyear Launches All-Terrain Adventure
■ BUSINESS:
FEATURES
Market Intel - Tire & Service Pricing Social Media - SEO Made Easy
24 Cover: Seeking Six-cess With Six Sigma
■ TIRES: TPMS - Real-World TPMS Tips & Tricks OTR - Preparing for Winter Sales
36 Tires: Giant OTR Tire Market
■ SOLUTIONS:
42 Service: Starter & Alternator Replacement
Spotlights - Vehicle Lifts Products
|8 | 64
| 10 | 12 | 14 | 18
| 20 | 21
| 48 | 52
| 54 | 58
30 Top Shop: Tred Shed Tire Pros BPA
INTERNATIONAL
Members of:
Proud Supporters of:
TIRE REVIEW (ISSN 0040-8085) (AUGUST 2013, Volume 113, Number 08. Published monthly by Babcox Media Inc., 3550 Embassy Parkway, Akron, OH 44333 U.S.A. Phone (330) 670-1234, FAX (330) 670-0874. Periodical postage paid at Akron, OH 44333 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tire Review, 3550 Embassy Parkway, Akron, OH 44333. A limited number of complimentary subscriptions are available to individuals who meet the qualification requirements. Call (330) 670-1234, ext. 242, to speak to a subscription services representative or FAX us at (330) 670-5335. Paid subscriptions are available for non-qualified subscribers at the following rates: U.S.: $69 for one year. Canada: $89 for one year. Canadian rates include GST. Ohio residents add current county sales tax. Other foreign rates/via airmail: $129 for one year. Payable in advance in U.S. funds. Mail payment to Tire Review, P.O. Box 75692, Cleveland, OH 44101-4755. Visa, MasterCard or American Express accepted. Founded in 1901. © 2013 by Babcox Media Inc. “Tire Review” is a trademark of Babcox Media Inc., registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. All rights reserved. Publisher reserves the right to reject any subscription that does not conform to his standards or buying power coverage. Advertising which is below standard is refused. Opinions in signed articles and advertisements are not necessarily those of this magazine or its publisher. Diligent effort is made to ensure the integrity of every statement. Unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by return postage.
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FIRST LOOK
ONLINE @TIREREVIEW.COM
inSERVICE
7 Brake Myths Busted There are some myths about brake pads, rotors and hydraulics that can hinder a technician’s ability to diagnose and solve some brake problems and customer concerns. On the surface, some of these myths make sense; the logic can seem sound and explain a problem, but they do not resolve the real issues with a brake system. tirereview.com/inService
BLOGS
inBUSINESS
Retired Cooper Execs Speak
Managing Yelp Reviews Through sites like Yelp and social media platforms, word of mouth about your tire dealership now reaches millions of people online in the blink of an eye. When presented with a new review on Yelp, follow these three easy tips for responding. tirereview.com/inBusiness
In a July 28 report in the Findlay Courier, “three retired senior executives” of Cooper blasted the proposed $2.5 billion acquisition of Cooper by India’s Apollo Tyres. Theirs have not been the only voices questioning motive and impact of the deal. Read the details, then let us know what you think. tirereview.com/blogs
TireReview.com Visitor Comments “Putting your loved ones on a set of used tires? Only if they came straight off a new and unsold car with less than five miles on them. But I guess if you don’t have the finances it can’t be helped. I've been there.” – Hanapaa11
payment, they will always buy used tires. If it wasn’t for the fact that almost every single tire manufacturer has reported record profits and, in some cases, over a billion dollars in profit, I would say that is why more and more people are buying used tires.” – Jason
“‘Saving a few dollars.’ Try over 50% of what a new tire costs. In my area, where a majority of vehicles are over 15 years old, most people don’t value their cars and trucks at what the RMA associates charge for new tires. Also, if it is a choice between new tires and a mortgage/rent
“Mr. Thomas was going above and beyond in customer service and for those admirable actions, he is put in harm’s way by people who want something for nothing.” – Lori
RMA Warning: Unsafe Used Tires for Sale
N.C. Tire Dealer Chases Down Robbers
Publisher Randy Loeser, ext. 285 rloeser@babcox.com Editor Jim Smith, ext. 298 jsmith@babcox.com
tirereview.com 3550 Embassy Parkway Akron, OH 44333-8318 FAX 330-670-0874
330-670-1234 6 August 2013 | TireReview
Managing Editor Denise Koeth, ext. 274 dkoeth@babcox.com Associate Editor Kristen Criswell, ext. 273 kcriswell@babcox.com Graphic Designer Nichole Anderson, ext. 232 nanderson@babcox.com
Contributing Editors Mac Demere, Tim Good, Joanne Draus Klein, Al Cohn, Shana O’Malley, Jody DeVere, Rick Barnhart, Steve Ferrante, Rich Ashley, Jeff Wallick, Heather Blessington, Brian Sacks, Sean Phillips Advertising Services Kelly McAleese, ext. 284 kmcaleese@babcox.com Circulation Manager Pat Robinson, ext. 276 probinson@babcox.com Sr. Circulation Specialist Star Mackey, ext. 242 smackey@babcox.com
Sales Representatives Doug Basford, ext. 255 dbasford@babcox.com Jim Merle, ext. 280 jmerle@babcox.com Glenn Warner, ext. 212 gwarner@babcox.com Sean Donohue, ext. 206 sdonohue@babcox.com Roberto Almenar, ext. 233 ralmenar@babcox.com John Zick 949-756-8838 jzick@babcox.com Bobbie Adams, ext. 238 badams@babcox.com David Benson, ext. 210 dbenson@babcox.com
Pirelli’s Tronchetti Provera Found Guilty of Receiving Stolen Data “Wait, what??? Why would a dispute for control of Brasil Telecom cause ‘an agency’ to spy on Italia Telecom? And unless there was something suspicious in the data itself or in the way ‘an agency’ presented itself, you would think you would have the right to information on your own company…” – Paul Vanderburg FOLLOW US ON:
Sales/List Rental Don Hemming, ext. 286 dhemming@babcox.com Classified Sales Manager Tom Staab, ext. 224 tstaab@babcox.com
Babcox Media Inc. Bill Babcox, President Greg Cira, Vice President, CFO Jeff Stankard, Vice President Beth Scheetz, Controller In Memorium: Edward S. Babcox (1885-1970) Founder Tom B. Babcox (1919-1995) Chairman
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COMMENTARY FIRST OFF
Final Final Finally? P
erhaps it is part of an evil master plan: Keep us guessing for so long that we lose all interest and submit to their will. But that would be giving NHTSA too much credit, though closet conspiracy theorists might disagree. Still, we cannot let NHTSA’s best worst effort lull us to sleep. At this point, even Congress moves faster than the final piece of the Energy Bill of 2007 – the RMA-written part that created an all-new tire testing and “grading” system and what some are convinced will be a multi-million-dollar government-supported consumer tire education program. Back when that bit of legislation was first concocted, a man named Bush was president and drivers everywhere were freaking out over $2 per gallon gas prices. Freaking out to the point that state lawmakers pointed at tires as the evil-doers preventing American drivers from maxing out their MPGs. The RMA wanted to prevent a kneejerk “50 states/50 solutions” approach by all-too-eager state legislators looking to defend their constituents’ wallets. Nationally, Congress was hankering to do something, and in 2005 it enlisted the National Academy of Science to examine a tire’s role in vehicle fuel economy. The NAS’s 2006 research report showed that the rolling resistance of modern radial tires contributed only 4% (urban) to 7% (highway) to the fuel consumption of a mid-sized passenger vehicle. Compared to almost every other vehicle system considered by the NAS, tires were the most fuel-efficient. But because the RMA was trying to forestall Tirelawmageddon, radials became Con8 August 2013 | TireReview
No, but NHTSA’s little tire grading and education scheme is coming in stereo – some day JIM SMITH Editor jsmith@babcox.com
gress’ sole vehicle component target (at the time). What we ended up with was a chicken-egg law where the ends foretold the means. Fast-forward to March 2010 when NHTSA finally issued its “final rule” for the program, which actually wasn’t so “final.” It had indeed sorted through all of the science and tire testing standards and graded and which tires would be included, etc. The means. But the 195-page rule still hadn’t sorted out the true centerpiece of the rule: a comprehensive consumer education effort. The ends. NHTSA hinted at what education it expected – tire dealers would carry much of the burden, of course – but little else. Some, like TIA, imagined piles of taxpayer dollars available to execute this education. Others imagined this effort getting hijacked by plaintiff attorneys and “safety advocates” like Sean Kane’s Safety Research & Strategies. With no commitment to a delivery system, NHTSA decided it needed yet more input before it would execute the final-final rule. The intervening three-plus years offered periodic red alerts that something was forthcoming. Dates were set, then disregarded. Meanwhile, as gas prices climbed to $4 per gallon, drivers and lawmakers were squawking less about tires and more about jobs and money. Even with a whole new breed of “fuel-efficient” tires to choose from, fewer new consumer tires were being sold. Overall miles driven declined sharply, a fall that started in 2007 and persisted for years. The average age of vehicles markedly increased – now past 11 years – as the crash took its toll. Ironi-
cally TPMS, fully integrated in 2007, had a greater impact on tire fuel economy; NHTSA’s own November 2012 study of TPMS effectiveness said that the mere presence of TPMS on vehicles resulted in a 55.6% reduction in the likelihood that the vehicle would have severely underinflated tires. NHTSA proclaimed that TPMS saved some $511 million for the TPMSequipped vehicle population! Now comes head-scratching news from NHTSA in that the final-final rule will be issued in two phases. No firm release date was set (of course), but NHTSA said the first phase would address its own consumer tire care education offerings, and the second would focus more on explaining the new tire fuel efficiency, safety (wet braking) and treadwear ratings program and labeling scheme. Huh? I mean, Huh?!?!? Sadly, NHTSA continues to miss the point. The means is far more important than the ends; an all-new testing and grading and labeling program is a game changer for this industry. How that info is disseminated is clearly secondary. The rest of the world has managed to enact such regulation; we’re stuck debating coloring books and wall posters and PSAs no one will see. NHTSA said it plans on working with TIA “prior to finalizing these materials to ensure that the content is accurate and comprehensible.” Great, but it is incomprehensible and unforgiveable and oh-so-typical that NHTSA would foot-drag long enough for the moment to pass when drivers might actually notice. Even with an actual, nailed-down rule, will anyone care? ■
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NEWSMAKERS
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INDUSTRY NEWS & EVENTS
New ContiTread Retread Facility Opens in S.C. Continental Tire the Americas opened DLS Retreading Inc., its first all-new ContiTread licensed truck tire retreading facility, on July 19. “Continental is a top tier truck tire, and everyone wants to try their solution of new tires with matching retreads. Now we’re here to help prove to these local fleets, with Continental’s support, that Continental is an excellent choice for their lifecycle needs,” said Scott Snyder, vice president and general manager. Located in Fort Mill, S.C., DLS Retreading will service the South Carolina market with retreaded truck tires, emergency road service, truck tire service and new Continental and General brand truck tires. CTA has committed to providing marketing, engineering and sales support to help DLS Retreading succeed in its new market. “We’ve been committed to help DLS Retreading with this new venture from the beginning,” said Paul Williams, executive vice president for truck tires. “They understand the benefits of providing retreads that meet the needs of the market with the same performance and designs as the new
2014 Debut for Sumitomo’s ‘Ultra Pure’ Tires Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ development of a highly purified form of natural rubber may take on tire form as early as next year. The tire manufacturer said in July that it plans to utilize its UPNR (ultra-pure natural rubber) in several tires, starting with new ranges scheduled for launch in 2014. “With the recent rise in global environmental awareness, there is now an increasing demand for more fuelefficient, resource-saving tires,” wrote Sumitomo in a statement announcing the successful development of UPNR. “In order to respond to this demand 10 August 2013 | TireReview
DLS Retreading, located in Fort Mill, S.C., is the first of Continental’s U.S. licensees to be a completely new retreading venture, with no pre-existing operations. (Photo credit Continental Tire/Chelsea Bren)
tires. DLS Retreading has been a great ambassador already for Continental products, and we look forward to helping them continue their success.” With more than 16,000 square feet and 11 service docks, the operation employs more than 50 workers. Additionally, the facility is the first of Continental’s licensees in the U.S. to be a completely new retreading venture, with no pre-existing operations.
while also striving to ensure greater safety and peace of mind, it is becoming increasingly important to develop new, high-performance rubber-based materials to improve tire grip performance even further.” A stepping stone on the path to UPNR was the 2011 development of “4D Nano Design,” a new material development technology that Sumitomo claimed enabled it to “freely control material properties through advanced material simulation,” effectively allowing it to accurately recreate and analyze the behavior of molecules at a nano scale. This technology has, incidentally, already been applied in the development of new materials that employ synthetic rubber, silica and carbon black, including materials used in the company’s Enasave Premium, Winter
Maxx and SP688 tire ranges. By applying 4D Nano Design to improving natural rubber, a material that (according to figures from the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association) accounts for 28.2% of a tire’s material mass, Sumitomo said it has “learned that thoroughly removing the impurities inherent in natural rubber not only improves tire durability and wear resistance thanks to the increased bonding between rubber molecules and carbon black, but also contributes to improved tire fuel-efficiency performance by increasing the interaction between the rubber and carbon black, thereby enhancing the dispersion of carbon black at the microscopic level.” Yet removing these impurities was reported to have been problematic, as Continued on Page 16
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> TBC Corp.
Sailun Message, Products Showcased in Event
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ot, sticky and stormy. That’s Brand Details the brand and model names were a typical June day in south As vice president of marketing for carefully removed from the sidewall Florida, and it doesn’t make Dynamic Tire, Brian Mielko is the of all test tires, and attendees were a bad atmosphere to track test some point person for Sailun’s marketing not told in advance which tire was tires. Especially on a brand few have and promotion efforts in North Amerwhich. any familiarity with. ica, and he offered some background It didn’t take too much work to on the company and brand. Hosting its very first media/dealer figure out which was the Sailun Sailun Tire Corp., according to ride-and-drive event was TBC Atrezzo Z4+AS and which was the Mielko, is active on six continents and Brands, the wholesale distribution Continental ContiExtremeContact in 50-plus countries, and offers five and private brand unit of TBC Corp., DWS; the Conti tire, after all, clearly primary brands. The now publicly which is the exclusive U.S. importer has the initials “DWS” embedded in traded company, founded in 2002, has and distributor of Sailun brand tires. its tread, while the Sailun center rib plants in Qingdao On hand, too, and Shenyang, were representaChina, and a new tives of Sailun’s plant coming in Canadian distribuVietnam, which tor Dynamic Tire will give the comCorp. The Bramppany a combined ton, Ont., importer annual capacity of and distributor is 30 million passenalso serving as the ger and light Sailun brand’s martruck/SUV units. keting representaIn his presentative for North Amtion, Mielko stated erica. that, “quality has The location seno connection to a lected for the daycountry or origin, long event was but is directly rePalm Beach Interlated to the factory national Raceway of origin,” a disin Palm Beach Gartinction Dynamic dens, Fla., just a and TBC are short drive from working hard to TBC Corp.’s headFor the event, the Sailun Atrezzo Z4+AS was pitted against Continental’s ContiExhelp customers quarters. tremeContact DWS; both tires were fitted to identical Mercedes C250s. understand. The event for It’s important tire media and seto Sailun and its North American eflect tire dealers included representacarries the Atrezzo model name, as forts because it sees itself as a “value tives from TBC Brands’ “distribution one can see by the photo on the next tier” brand along with such familiar partners” for Sailun tires: Sullivan page. names as Uniroyal, GT Radial, HerTire & Auto Service, Flynn’s Tire & The ContiExtremeContact DWS cules and others. Tier 3 – the value Auto Service, Les Schwab Tires, and and the UHP Sailun tires, in size tier – carries some 24.3% of the North Carroll Tire Co. 225/45R17 and with nearly identical American consumer tire market. Borrowing from a similar media/- UTQG ratings, were mounted on “Sailun has access to at least 50% of dealer driving event hosted in Canidentical Mercedes C250s, which the market because of its value propoada earlier this year, the U.S. test were used in all three test segments sition,” the company claims, but, by drives were done “blind.” That is: throughout the day. and large, consumers “are uneducated about ‘value tier’ products.” SAILUN TIRE CORP. IS ACTIVE ON SIX CONTINENTS To Mielko and his team, the brand’s selling proposition to dealers AND IN 50-PLUS COUNTRIES, AND OFFERS FIVE and consumers is three-fold: • Quality – “in every function and PRIMARY BRANDS. at every level” 12 August 2013 | TireReview
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• Trust – “earned through our commitment to our long-term goals and an understanding of our customers” • Support – “for those we work for before, during and after any interaction” One of those customers is TBC Brands, and Jon Vance, TBC Brands senior director of marketing, sees Sailun as a “product and partner that has a legacy of confidence, quality and performance. “They understand that to succeed here and meet customer needs, Vice president of marketing for Dynamic Tire Brian Mielko is the point person for Sailun’s marketing you need to have a and promotion efforts in North America. At right, the Sailun Atrezzo Z4+AS is ready for the track. complete program,” Vance offered. “They are delivering game-changing of origin. “Many top shelf brands pro- winter tires: Iceblazer WSL2 and Iceproducts you just don’t see from a blazer WST1. duce tires in China, and seem to go value tier supplier.” Capturing most of the event’s atout of their way to hide that fact,” Mielko, who joined Dynamic Tire tention was the new Atrezzo Z4+AS, Mielko said. “Sailun is proud of its 15 months ago from outside the tire an all-season UHP line, and the UHP home country, its team and its prodindustry, said, “I’m not saying we’re Atrezzo ZS-R. ucts.” better than, say, Michelin, but the avThe actual driving part of the event Tire Offerings and Features erage consumer will get more than included routes on public roads – Sailun’s consumer tire lineup inenough from our products.” complete with cops and gators – near cludes: Mielko said that Sailun is not a the track; a multi-discipline wet/dry • Atrezzo SH402, an all-season per- set-up with a slalom, hard cornering, “typical” Chinese tire company. The brand’s “North American engineering formance radial with 37 sizes covering evasive maneuver and hard braking 13- through 16-inch wheel diameters team” – primarily with Dynamic Tire activities; followed by hot laps around • Atrezzo Touring LS, an all-season PBIR’s two-mile road course, with top – develops tire designs and desired touring line with 25 sizes over 14performance parameters and then speeds around 80-90 mph. through 17-inch wheel diameters works with teams at Sailun in China The tires were not UHP radials and • Atrezzo SVR LX, a recently to create and produce the final prodthe cars were of the standard street vauct. Every tire is tested for uniformity. launched high performance SUV tire riety, but that didn’t stop the particiwith 15 total sizes over 20- to 24-inch These are tires developed in North pants from pushing the tires as hard wheel diameters America for North American dealers as they could. • Terramax HT, an all-season light and drivers, Sailun officials said. After a participant returned from The quality-trust-support is further truck/SUV tire with 22 P-metric and an in-car exercise, marketing folks LT-metric sizes over 15- to 17-inch paced by Sailun’s unique five-year converged to collect driver impreswheel diameters workmanship warranty, he said. The sions on both tires. End-of-the-day • Terramax AT, an on-/off-road way it chooses to do business, the feedback from the participants was light truck radial with 20 sizes ranging that the Sailun tire acquitted itself products it offers and the support it provides, Mielko said, made it easy to from 15- to 17-inch wheel diameters well compared to the Continental • The new Terramax CVR, an allarrive at Sailun’s new “With You product. ■ season tire for luxury crossovers with Through Every Turn” tagline. 18 sizes covering 15- to 20-inch wheel The takeaway at both the Canada Jim Smith Editor diameters and Florida events was the same: jsmith@babcox.com Also in the Sailun offerings are two Don’t judge a tire based on its country
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> Bridgestone Americas
Heavy Focus Back on Firestone Brand Truck Tires
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ridgestone Americas has deline of Firestone brand eco-tires – to promote smooth wear, and a contincided to make 2013 the “Year of FS591, FT491 and FD691. uous shoulder for even wear and Firestone.” On the commercial The line reduces operating cost by lower rolling resistance. side, this means promotion, invest7%, compared to previous lines of The FD691 drive tire features a conment and innovation. Firestone tires, improving wear by tinuous shoulder design, with a “high“Our goal is to make Firestone the 19% and providing a 1% increase in rigidity tread pattern to promote long, number one tier-two brand in comfuel economy, according to Buxton. even wear, helping increase tread life mercial truck brands,” said Matthew Bridgestone estimates the savings to and lower rolling resistance,” BridgeStevenson, vice president of marstone said. The tread’s “flowketing for Bridgestone Americas’ through design” evacuates water, commercial division. and the tire’s bead design and sideAs part of this positioning, the wall compound “improve fuel effiFirestone brand is focused on deciency throughout the lifecycle of veloping the best value proposithe casing.” tion for its customers, said Kurt The FT491 trailer tire features Danielson, president of the diviUlti-Rib and Defense Groove techsion. The company is trying to nologies, as well as sidewall prokeep things simple – understand tector ribs that help protect the the customer’s needs, find solucasing from curbing damage and tions and deliver. abrasion, and a wider tread to “It really starts by having spread loads over a larger area to world-class products and then promote long, smooth wear. building solutions around those Promotion products,” he said. “That’s what Bridgestone is promoting these we focus on every single day we tires on the road through the end wake up.” of the year with its “Firestone Bridgestone has recently inDrives America Tour,” the brand’s vested more than $1 billion in largest commercial promotion commercial manufacturing at its ever, which kicked off in Akron on plants in Warren County and La Bridgestone’s “Firestone Drives America Tour,” the July 16. Vergne, Tenn.; Des Moines, brand’s largest commercial promotion ever, kicked The tour will travel across the Iowa; Bloomington, Ill.; and its country introducing the new Firenewest addition, a massive OTR off in Akron on July 16 and will bring the new truck tires to fleets and owner-operators nationwide. stone commercial truck tires to plant in Aiken, S.C. The investsmall and mid-sized fleets and ment allows the company to owner-operators, with more than have the tires when customers 20 stops at various Minor League be $1,200 a year. need them, providing customers the Baseball ballparks this summer, as The tires meet EPA SmartWay and best value, Danielson said. well as NCAA Football games this fall. California Air Resources Board fuel efEco-tires The tour also will display the cusficiency requirements. Additionally, all Mid-July, several members of the tom Firestone Edition Class 8 truck three tires feature Bridgestone’s media had the chance to tour the and quad-cab truck that will be NanoPro-Tech polymer technology Americas Technical Center in Akron, that “limits energy loss for improved given away at the 2014 Mid-America Ohio, and get a run down of techrolling resistance and optimum fuel ef- Trucking Show after the conclusion nology being used and developed in of the national “Drive a Firestone” ficiency,” and a new sidewall design order to improve products for custhat reduces overall tire weight to “im- sweepstakes. Fleet customers and tomers. Firestone dealers will have the prove fuel efficiency without sacrific“Technology is the only way you chance to enter this sweepstakes to ing durability,” the company claims. can improve paradigm of performwin a “Firestone truck.” ■ The FS591 steer tire also features a ance,” said Todd Buxton, commercial wide, deep tread and proprietary tire development. shoulder design to improve removal Kristen Criswell Associate Editor The technology being developed by mileage and resist irregular wear, Ultikcriswell@babcox.com Bridgestone is utilized in the newest Rib and Defense Side Groove designs
14 August 2013 | TireReview
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Continued from Page 10
the process also removes components that protect rubber molecules and, in doing so, makes the rubber more prone to deterioration when exposed to the kind of heat experienced in the tire production process. With this development, Sumitomo describes UPNR as an “entirely new, highly purified form of natural rubber that combines both superior fuel efficiency and highly durable wear resistance.”
Monro Purchases All Curry’s Auto Service Locations Monro Muffler Brake Inc. purchased all 10 Curry’s Auto Service stores in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and renamed the stores Curry’s/Mr. Tire. Curry’s Auto Service recently opened its 10th location in Leesburg, Va. The dealership, a 2009 TIRE REVIEW Top Shop Award finalist, has other locations in Alexandria, Arlington, Chantilly, Dulles, Fairfax City, Falls Church, and Gainesville, Va., and one in Gaithersburg, Md. The stores generate about $18 million annually. Monro said it plans to retain all store-level employees.
‘Big Three’ Reach Contract Deals With USW Labor strife was fully averted by Goodyear, Bridgestone Americas and Michelin North America when the tiremakers and their USW-represented employees reached agreements on new multi-year contracts. The separate deals were announced over the weekend of July 27-28; the previous contracts for each ended at various times over that weekend. All three tiremakers reportedly settled four-year contracts with their USW employees. At press time, no details on the pacts were available and none of the affected USW Locals had held ratification votes. The Goodyear contract affected plants in Gadsden, Ala.; Akron, Ohio; Buffalo, N.Y.; Danville, Va.; 16 August 2013 | TireReview
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Hennessy Offers Big Rewards in ‘Lights, Camera, Coats Contest’ Hennessy Industries is launching a fun and potentially beneficial contest for tire dealers and service shops. The grand-prize winner of the company’s “Lights, Camera, Coats Contest” will receive an “extreme shop makeover” package that includes an array of equipment and shop materials. The contest opens on Sept. 3 and closes on Oct. 23, and entering is as easy as shooting a short video and posting it to a designated site. Details can be found at ammcoats.com. The contest will award one Coats customer with a grand-prize package valued at more than $30,000. That “extreme shop makeover” package includes a new Coats tire changer and wheel balancer, an Ammco brake lathe and a Coats BaseLine lift, as well as a fully-stocked floor rack of Bada steel wheel weights. The grand-prize winner also will receive a trip to 2013 Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show, where the winner will be announced, and the winning video will be featured on the ammcoats.com website and Hennessy’s YouTube channel.
“This is going to be a fun contest for our customers with a significant grand prize,” said Kevin Keefe, Hennessy vice president of marketing. “Our customers are already using Coats products on a daily basis, so pulling out their smartphones and shooting a quick video to tell us why they trust our products should be quick and easy.” Video submissions for the contest will be limited to 45 seconds, in which time customers can deliver a testimonial in any manner they choose, as long as they are shown standing next to a piece of Coats equipment. “With the exception of a few parameters, such as the time limit, we want customers to be as creative as they want,” said Keefe. “We have a panel of voters who will determine the grand-prize winner based on factors such as content, quality and creativity.” Everyone who participates in the contest will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win the runner-up prize, which is a new Coats wheel balancer.
Fayetteville, N.C. and Topeka, Kan. Bridgestone Americas’ agreement covered workers in Akron; Des Moines, Iowa; Russellville, Ark.; and LaVergne, Tenn. Michelin North America’s contract covers its plants in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Fort Wayne, Ind.
cluded that the tire unit was “not core to Carlisle’s growth strategy” going forward. Carlisle said that it had retained SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc. of Atlanta to assist in evaluating “strategic alternatives.” The “alternatives” most assuredly include the potential sale of the tire unit, but no timetable was set. Carlisle currently sells small OTR, industrial, specialty and lawn/garden tires.
Tires No Longer Seen ‘Core’ to Carlisle Future Poor financial results have caused Carlisle Companies, parent of Carlisle Tire & Wheel, to rethink its continued involvement in the tire business. In late July, the company said that while it had not set a specific plan for the unit, founded in 1917, but con-
ITDG Reaches Record Level, Sees Growth The Independent Tire Dealers Group reported a record number of new members joined during the first Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53017
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NEWS & EVENTS
Ohio Dealer Celebrates 60 Years With Community Event As several people stopped and said hello to Brad Schmucker, his father Sheldon and his uncle Art Miller, anyone could see Millersburg Tire Service is part of the community. At the end of July, the Ohio-based tire dealership celebrated 60 years of service with a three-day celebration. “It’s still pretty neat to have my dad and uncle, who started it all, be here. It’s a milestone. Plus to still have it in the family…that’s amazing,” Brad said. Sheldon started selling tires on his father’s farm in 1952 after various tire companies tried to sell his father tractor tires, he said. In 1953, along with brother-in-law Art, Sheldon founded Schmucker and Miller Tire in Millersburg, Ohio. The company later renamed itself Millersburg Tire Service. The shop, originally located downtown, included two bays and a couple of molds for retreading. Today the store is in its second location and has seven bays and a retreading facility. “I think Brad has done a great job,” Art said. “The shop is 10 times better than when we ran it. Brad is a good operator and understands the business.” Brad, who at 2 years old started traveling with his father to tire companies in Akron, Ohio, took over Millersburg Tires in the 1980s. He continues to run the store as a family with the same values of his relatives. “They taught me that you have treat people the way you want to be treated. You have to be honest,” Brad said. “Only have top of the table dealings – the only thing that should be under the table is your feet. I think if you’re honest and you have good prices and good serv-
half of 2013. The group has added 16 new members from 12 states, representing 66 additional locations. “We are very excited about the growth of the group in the first half of 2013,” said Michael Cox, president and CEO of ITDG. “Ten years ago we were mainly a West Coast/Southern California phenomenon. We are now in 31 states and are continuing to expand our footprint, a testament to the viability of our program.” ITDG is comprised of more than 450 points of sale in 31 states with estimated member sales of more than $1.8 billion.
From left: Sheldon Schmucker, his son Brad, and his brother-in-law Art Miller at Millersburg Tire Service’s 60th anniversary celebration.
ice, people will come back.” Repeat service has helped the store throughout its 60 years. “One guy recently told me that he was a third generation buyer of tires from us,” Brad said. “That’s really neat to think there’ve been three generations buying tires. His grandpa probably bought from dad. The dad bought from me and now the other guy is probably buying from my son. We’re not just here today gone tomorrow, we want people to come back.” Located in the heart of Amish country, Millersburg Tire Service sells all sorts of tires. While ag tires are still its bread and butter, the shop carries passenger, LT/SUV, OTR and ATV tires. “If it runs on rubber, we sell it,” Brad said. “Dad never had 100 of anything, but we always had one of everything. I think that’s why people have come back because we do have good selection.”
TIA Releases ‘Tire Safety Starts With TPMS’ Video TIA released “Tire Safety Starts with TPMS,” the second in a series of consumer educational videos slated for 2013. The video is a five-minute overview of the safety benefits associated with TPMS and knowing when tires are underinflated. “When the TIA board voted to change the association’s tag line to
SCAN FOR INFO To view additional news stories, go to tirereview.com/news or scan this bar code with your smartphone or tablet.
‘Tire Safety Starts Here,’ we intentionally made a statement regarding the direction of the organization,” said Randy Groh, TIA president. “Our technician training programs continue to be the backbone of the association, so the addition of consumer education videos compliments our areas of expertise and supports the concept of improving tire safety.” TIA’s first educational video, “Tire Safety Starts with Proper Tire Repair,” debuted in March and is available on TIA’s YouTube channel, “TireSafetyStartsHere.” All of the videos are available for free download, reproduction, rebroadcast and distribution. Companies are encouraged to provide direct links to the videos on the YouTube channel for customers, TIA said. ■
TireReview.com 17
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NEWS & EVENTS
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> Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
All-Terrain Adventure Suited for Every Road
F
or some people, the weekend company has an exclusive agreement tire off-road while driving various means getting off the main road SUVs and trucks, including the with DuPont to be the sole tire manand heading for adventure. ufacturer to use the material in its Chevy Suburban and Tahoe, as well From hiking and biking to camping tires and use Kevlar in its marketing, as the Dodge Ram 1500 and Chevy and fishing, these customers need a Silverado. The course wound its way Goodyear said. tire that can get them there, accordThe tiremaker performed customer up the side of the mountain, allowing to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., studies, which found that using the ing the tires to be tested on dirt and which has launched a new tire for word Kevlar “resonates” with conloose gravel. these weekend sumers who are warriors. looking to purThe Wrangler chase all-terrain All-Terrain Adventires, Goodyear ture with Kevlar, insaid, adding that troduced last month Kevlar gives conat a dealer and sumers a strong media ride-andreason to believe drive, is designed the tire will perfor customers who form. need both on- and “People say, off-road perform‘Wow, you have ance from their light Kevlar,’ and it truck/SUV tires. helps us promote “[These custhe ruggedness tomers] have an acand durability of tive lifestyle. They the product,” might commute a said Marc Nowlot during the acki, light week…but they retruck/SUV techally live for the nical project weekend and manager at Dealer and media attendees drove on an off-road course that wound its way up the want to get offGood year. “So, side of the mountain, allowing the tires to be tested on loose dirt and gravel. road,” said Sara that helps catch Vacha, Goodyear their eye and lets Additionally, there was a wet/dry us talk about it.” all-terrain brand manager. “This tire track test in which attendees comhelps them to go off-road at a moThe all-new tread pattern for the pared the new Wrangler with the ment’s notice.” new Wrangler All-Terrain AdvenMichelin LTX A/T2. The course, The tire is designed for customers ture promotes a quiet ride and perwhich was set up in a parking lot who do roughly 80% of their driving formance on all road types, Goodwith several sharp turns on both wet on the highway and 20% off-road, year said. The tire features open and dry surfaces, was designed to Vacha noted. This need for on-road shoulder blocks in the tread that performance is a key factor for a cus- showcase the All-Terrain Advenself-clean – removing rocks, snow ture’s handling on wet surfaces, tomer to choose the All-Terrain over and mud and enhancing off-road Goodyear said. Goodyear’s Wrangler MT/R with traction. Special biting edges and Both on- and off-road, the tires Kevlar, an even more durable offrubber compound also assist with were extremely quiet. Additionally, road tire with three layers of Kevlar, traction on wet and icy roads, the many dealers on the trip noted that the tiremaker said. tiremaker said. during the wet/dry test, they could Goodyear’s Durawall Technology Launch Event feel a difference between the two and the layer of Kevlar contribute to Goodyear showcased the Wrantires tested. the toughness and durability of the gler All-Terrain Adventure to several tire. The Durawall Technology, dealers and key members of the media Tire Features which utilizes specially formulated Goodyear officials believe the inat a launch in Colorado Springs, Colo., rubber, resists cuts, chucking and clusion of Kevlar in the tire is one of in late July. tearing, Goodyear said. Those in attendance got to test the the major draws for consumers. The The tiremaker said the tire offers 18 August 2013 | TireReview
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■ NEWSMAKERS:
NEWS & EVENTS
Event attendees had the chance to compare Goodyear’s All-Terrain Adventure against Michelin’s LTX A/T2 on a dry/wet course (left). The Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar (right) features an all-new tread pattern that promotes a quiet ride and performance on all road types.
20% more tread life than its other Wrangler tires; standard load and LT-metric sizes carry a 60,000-mile tread life warranty. The All-Terrain Adventure will be offered in 44 total sizes, both LT- and P-metric, including 20 sizes with designated “prograde” fitments. The sizes should cover roughly 86% of the market, the tiremaker noted. All LT-metric fitments fall into the “pro-grade category.” These Load Range E tires feature two layers of Kevlar and heavy-duty steel belts, with 30% more steel, and are for three-quarter- or one-ton light trucks. The tires are equipped with an enhanced tread compound that is even more chip and chunk resistant than the standard tire. Additionally, “prograde” tires feature the severe snow conditions symbol, making them true four-season tires, Goodyear said. The company added it chose to not pursue earning the “snowflake” win-
ter tire designation for all versions of the tire due to consumer needs. “The P-metrics tend to be on vehicles with a little more on-road performance. They need a little more wet performance, so we chose to focus on the wet performance on the standard load tires,” Nowacki said. “The pro-grade sizes, LT-metric sizes, they need a little more chip and chunk resistance. They have a lot more diverse load and inflation conditions, so we wanted to address those needs, as well. We found it a good break point between the P-metric and LT-metric. The LT-metrics have deeper tread to help with tread life and earn the snow flake certification, as well.” Many tire sizes already have shipped, Goodyear said, adding that the full 44-size lineup will be available by September.
Looking Forward Goodyear hinted that the Wran-
CUSTOMER STUDIES FOUND THAT USING THE WORD KEVLAR “RESONATES” WITH CONSUMERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE ALL-TERRAIN TIRES.
gler All-Terrain Adventure, which has been made as an OE fitment, might be featured on new models as soon as next year. “[OE is an] important part of our strategy because it’s a way for consumers to trial test the tires,” Vacha said. “There’s a lot of research that consumers do in their purchase process when they’re in the market for tires and we know that OE fitments help influence them. Roughly 50% look to the OE tire, if they had a good experience, to help inform what the next purchase should be.” Goodyear plans to target customers – both in the market for new tires and not – with its advertising. The company will launch television spots, both U.S. and Canadian, in support of the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure starting in September. Additional marketing for the tire includes retail promotions, as well as digital and print ads. Goodyear tire dealers also can expect support and training materials, including a launch kit, to arrive in August or September, Vacha said. ■ Kristen Criswell Associate Editor kcriswell@babcox.com
TireReview.com 19
20 Green_Market Intel 8/13/13 9:55 AM Page 20
MARKET INTEL
BUSINESS
$40.00 $507.96***
Mass Merch. A
$99.00 $508.00***
$19.95 $440.00**
Mass Merch. B
$98.00 $472.00**
$29.99 $415.96*
Tire Dealer A
$50.00 $502.60*
$45.00 $320.00**
Tire Dealer B
$129.95 $390.96**
$44.95 $520.00*
Car Dealer
$93.39 $480.30
$35.98 $440.78
Avg. All
San Francisco, CA Market Period 7/17-22
Vehicle 1 Oil Change/Filter Replace All: 215/60R16
$89.99 $527.96**
Tire Dealer B $38.95 $575.96*
Car Dealer
$84.97 $463.53
$31.33 $427.76
Avg. All
$245.99 $663.17
Tire Dealer A $33.95 $249.80**
$89.95 $440.00*
$200.18 $613.15
$259.95 $779.80*
Mass Merch. B $35.74 $397.07***
$79.95 $512.44**
$179.95 $643.96*
$250.00 $676.08*
Mass Merch. A $23.00 $508.00*
$89.95 $433.28**
$303.44 $623.48*
$245.00 $512.00**
$24.99 $407.96***
$84.99 $575.96*
$242.50 $670.36*
$225.00 $708.00*
Vehicle 1 Oil Change/Filter Replace All: 215/60R16
$79.99 $355.96**
$140.00 $612.00**
$249.98 $639.96*
Vehicle 2 4 Wheel Alignment Replace All: 225/60R16 Vehicle 3 Front Brakes, Turn Rotors Replace All: 265/70R17
Vehicle 2 4 Wheel Alignment Replace All: 225/60R16
$135.00 $515.96**
Denver, CO Market Period 7/17-22
Vehicle 3 Front Brakes, Turn Rotors Replace All: 265/70R17
Vehicle 2 4 Wheel Alignment Replace All: 225/60R16
Vehicle 1 Oil Change/Filter Replace All: 215/60R16
$150.00 $555.96**
$79.99 $ $459.96**
$21.99 $287.96***
Mass Merch. A
$189.00 $672.00**
$79.99 $503.96*
$30.00 $327.92**
Mass Merch. B
$179.00 $672.00*
$89.95 $608.12*
$32.00 $445.80**
Tire Dealer A
$120.99 $660.00**
$69.99 $460.12**
$26.99 $435.80**
Tire Dealer B
$203.00 $656.00*
$89.95 $480.00**
$36.99 $444.00*
Car Dealer
$180.25 $643.19
$81.97 $502.43
$29.59 $388.30
Avg. All
Cedar Rapids, IA Market Period 7/17-22
Vehicle 3 Front Brakes, Turn Rotors Replace All: 265/70R17
Vehicle 1 Oil Change/Filter Replace All: 215/60R16
$84.99 $547.96*
$39.99 $355.96**
Mass Merch. A
$124.95 $503.96**
$34.99 $363.96***
Mass Merch. B
$89.95 $403.44**
$29.95 $407.00**
Tire Dealer A
Tampa, FL Market Period 7/17-22
Vehicle 2 4 Wheel Alignment Replace All: 225/60R16
$34.95 $504.00*
Tire Dealer B
$99.95 $390.96**
$27.99 $448.00**
Car Dealer
$97.97 $465.26
$33.57 $415.78
Avg. All
Mass Merch. A
$34.95 $525.08**
Mass Merch. B
$199.99 $683.96*
$70.00 $368.00**
$34.00 $371.76**
Tire Dealer A
$159.95 $739.84*
$175.00 $664.00**
$89.95 $452.00**
$28.04 $545.00**
Tire Dealer B
$189.99 $676.76*
$175.00 $616.00*
$99.95 $476.00*
$26.99 $444.00*
Car Dealer
$165.00 $656.00*
$174.82 $643.17
$83.96 $463.99
$31.54 $483.56
Avg. All
$168.98 $655.30
$89.99 $480.00*
$33.70 $531.96**
$74.90 $520.00*
$179.00 $588.00**
$129.99 $519.96**
Vehicle 1 Oil Change/Filter Replace All: 215/60R16
$84.99 $503.96*
$176.59 $608.00**
Vehicle 3 Front Brakes, Turn Rotors Replace All: 265/70R17
Vehicle 2 4 Wheel Alignment Replace All: 225/60R16
$168.49 $739.84*
Grand Rapids, MI Market Period 7/17-22
Vehicle 3 Front Brakes, Turn Rotors Replace All: 265/70R17
Vehicle 2 4 Wheel Alignment Replace All: 225/60R16
Vehicle 1 Oil Change/Filter Replace All: 215/60R16
$212.20 $551.96**
$79.99 $423.96**
$29.99 $315.96**
Mass Merch. A
$210.00 $592.00***
$89.00 $408.00**
$21.65 $452.00**
Mass Merch. B
$325.96 $536.00*
$79.95 $396.00*
$28.99 $435.00*
Tire Dealer A
$220.00 $600.00*
$89.00 $480.00**
$25.00 $500.00*
Tire Dealer B
$230.00 $720.00*
$89.95 $390.96**
$19.95 $360.00**
Car Dealer
$239.63 $599.99
$85.58 $419.78
$25.12 $412.59
Avg. All
Newark, NJ Market Period 7/17-22
Vehicle 3 Front Brakes, Turn Rotors Replace All: 265/70R17
Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53021 佥
20 August 2013 | TireReview
*** = Private Brand/Other ** = Tier 2 Brand * = Tier 1 Brand Legend :
This tire and service price information from major U.S. metropolitan areas was compiled by InteliChek.
For more information, visit intelichek.com.
21-22 Green_Social Media 8/13/13 9:55 AM Page 21
BUSINESS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Search Engine Optimization Made Easy
Leveraging SEO techniques can help customers find your business
T
here is great mystery surrounding search engine optimization, or SEO. That’s because there is so much misleading information out there and way too many not-so-honest search marketing companies dialing for your dollars. Optimizing a website is not a onetime deal; it’s a continuous process that you must commit to doing on a regular (at least quarterly) basis, especially if you want to maintain or improve your current search engine ranking. SEO should be a high priority line item in your marketing budget, and you should never put it off “until later.” Once you get off-track with SEO, rankings quickly slip and it takes more work to gain them back. But remember – no single SEO factor will guarantee search engine rankings. Let’s boil SEO down to the basics so you can have a better grasp of exactly what it is, why it matters, and what you need to be doing.
What is SEO? According to Webopedia, search engine optimization is a “methodology of strategies, techniques and tactics used to increase the amount of visitors to a website by obtaining a high-ranking placement in the search results page of a search engine – including Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines. SEO helps to ensure that a site is accessible to a search engine and improves the chances that the site will be found by the search engine.” Why is this so important? Think about how you search for information on the Web. In most cases, Inter-
net users won’t click through pages and pages of search results, so they gravitate to those websites and pages that show up toward the top of any search display. Where your website ranks in a search is “essential for directing more traffic toward the site,” Webopedia says. “The higher a web-
HEATHER BLESSINGTON Contributing Editor heatherb@duowebsolutions.com
term in the SEO world for a while, which meant certain content can be relevant and timely year after year, so you can utilize it over and over. For example, every winter you likely post information about your winter tire specials and vehicle winterization services, so why not just flip the same information
Search engine optimization (SEO) is vital because it makes it faster and easier for customers to find you in Web search results.
site naturally ranks in organic results of a search, the greater the chance that site will be visited by a user.”
On-Page SEO On-page search ranking factors are those that are entirely within the website publisher’s control. In other words, it’s the content you place on your webpages. Content: You must keep your content fresh with regular updates on all pages. “Evergreen content” was a trendy
up there and be done with it? This is a lazy approach to marketing. Put some thought and effort into all of the information that goes onto your website and you will see the results, such as longer page visits and more page views. Follow these best practices to create quality online content: • Content should be at least 500 words in length. • The target search phrase should be included in the page headline. • The target search phrase should TireReview.com 21
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■ BUSINESS:
SOCIAL MEDIA
When other sites link to yours, your website shows up higher in search results. You can measure how many inbound links you currently have at www.opensiteexplorer.org.
be repeated three to five times within body copy. • Content should include relevant images and/or graphics with ALT tags that describe the target search phrase. • Your post shouldn’t have any misspellings or poor grammar. Search engines penalize you for both of these offenses. • Your content should include social media links and/or user reviews. HTML: HTML is just a fancy name for the code that makes your site function. Within this code are page titles, descriptions and tags that search engines look for when they rank your site. It’s likely your website platform provider allows you to view and update this information in your administrative panel; therefore, you should be reviewing and updating this information quarterly. If you don’t have access to these fields, ask your website provider if you can submit updated information for them to code into the site. Architecture: Website architecture is crucial to SEO success. An example of architecture that is clearly visible is your website URL or address. The ideal URL clearly describes the page content. For example: www.thomastire.com/showroom_2013. A non optimized URL might look like: www.thomastire/shrm.asp?year=2013. See the difference? Google does. So do Yahoo, Bing and others. Characters such as question marks and equal signs are unreadable by search engines. Your page URL shouldn’t include abbreviations, either. Inventory your non-op22 August 2013 | TireReview
timized URLs and address the list with your website provider.
Off-Page SEO Publishers cannot directly control off-page ranking factors. These factors include inbound links, social channel activity and online customer reviews. Inbound Links: When other sites link to yours, your website shows up higher in search results. You can measure how many inbound links you currently have at www.opensiteexplorer.org. Once you collect this data, consider taking these actions: • Scan your highest-authority inbound links for opportunities to cre-
ate more similar links. • Scan your competitors’ highestauthority inbound links. Can you get those links too, or do they provide ideas for getting similar links? • Inbound links from non-profit (.org) and education (.edu) sites are especially valuable. Do you have any? Should you have more from your friends and partners in these realms? Build your inbound links gradually. Google algorithms will notice a quick accumulation of links and may penalize you. Get your staff on board with the idea of “thinking links” – always keep an eye out for opportunities to request an inbound link. For a complete list of SEO best practice guidelines, look to Google Webmaster Tools. The platform will show you how your website is performing before you put your SEO strategy in motion. For more information, go here: http://bit.ly/1azzEf6. ■ Heather Blessington, CEO of Duo Web Solutions, is an accomplished blogger receiving press from CNN, USA TODAY, BBC and FORBES. Her company specializes in creating and managing blogs for powersports dealers. Contact Heather at heatherb@duowebsolutions.com.
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Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53023
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FEATURE
JOANNE DRAUS KLEIN Contributing Editor
Seeking Six-cess Leveraging These Strategies and Tools Can Give You a Serious – and Sustainable – Advantage
Take it from someone whose title is “Director of Continuous Improvement,” Six Sigma, the increasingly popular model of strategies and tools for industrial process improvement, can work well in the tire industry – even at dealerships.
24 August 2013 | TireReview
Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53025 佡
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■ FEATURE:
“I firmly believe, as do most at Dunn Tire, that Six Sigma can be implemented with great success in tire businesses,” says Tim Schroeder, director of continuous improvement at Buffalo-based Dunn Tire. “Its ability to offer a controlled way to look at your processes and determine clear methods to correct those defects is unparalleled.” Such process or quality improvement methods, programs or systems come by many different names. Some are quite focused on particular aspects, and others encompass the entirety of a process. The names vary: Benchmarking, Kaizan (a close cousin of Lean), Total Quality Management, Process Improvement & Management, Scrum, Quality Circle, and on and on. The point is that there are many options to dealers, and if you do choose to employ such systems, make sure you understand how they can best help your business. For our purposes, we’re focusing on Six Sigma as it has been successfully used by a tire dealer. Six Sigma, developed by Motorola Inc. in 1985 and popularized 10 years later when General Electric implemented it with much hoopla, is intended to identify and remove causes of error and variability in business processes. Using statistics, quality-management methods and an infrastructure of experts, each Six Sigma project follows a series of steps toward improving quantified
targets. Among the targets may be cost reduction, time cycle reduction, customer satisfaction, pollution reduction and even profit increases. While some consultants say the strategy is less suited to companies with fewer than 500 employees due to the grand scale of its processes, others say many of its tools and techniques can be beneficial to small- and mid-size businesses, as well. In fact, Dunn’s Schroeder, in line with his title, emphasizes that trying to determine “to what end” the strategies will work isn’t entirely relevant. “There is no end, only opportunities to continuously improve,” he says. “Continuous improvement has no end. It’s simply another step in a journey that has no end but a clear goal, that being to increase value through the removal of defects, errors and waste.” That’s something from which
COVER
even the smallest tire dealership – retail, wholesale or commercial – can benefit.
One Company’s ‘Six-cess’ Dunn Tire’s use of Six Sigma began four years ago, in conjunction with the company’s launch of its “Mission World Class” improvement program. “We enrolled eight key people from different departments in a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course made available to us through Erie Community College in Buffalo,” Schroeder recalls. Lean is a complementary methodology sometimes used alongside Six Sigma. “The goal was to gain understanding of process correction and to expand on the culture change we were creating.” Dunn chose to use the martialarts-inspired “belt” system and trained five executive management
SIGMA DOGMA Six Sigma, like other quality-improvement initiatives, is based on the understandings that: • Achieving predictable process results is vital to success • Business processes can be measured, analyzed, controlled and improved • Sustaining quality improvement requires commitment from an entire company, but especially from upper management What sets Six Sigma apart from other quality-improvement initiatives: • A focus on measurable financial returns • An emphasis on passionate leadership • A management infrastructure that leads implementation • Decisions made on the basis of verifiable data rather than guesswork
TireReview.com 25
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■ FEATURE:
COVER
members as Platinum Belts; six human resource, distribution and retail regional managers as Lean Six Sigma Green Belts; five retail regional managers, retail store managers and field maintenance employees as Lean Focused Green Belts; seven information technology, distribution and dispatch managers, and retail store managers as Lean Focused Yellow Belts; and Schroeder himself as a Black Belt. (See sidebar on next page for more information on belt ranks, for which some companies – and even a few universities – offer certifications.) “We’ve since instituted a component of Lean or Six Sigma into every department at Dunn,” he adds. “This includes our retail, wholesale (Exxpress Tire Delivery), distribution, support and field maintenance teams. We’ve met with great success in our retail and distribution departments, and the program continues to grow on all fronts.” What types of errors or variability in Dunn’s business processes
26 August 2013 | TireReview
THE ABCs OF SIX SIGMA The DMAIC Method
The DMADV Method
(to improve existing business processes)
(to create new products or process designs)
D efine the problem, the voice of the customer and project goals M easure key aspects of the current process and collect relevant data A nalyze the data to investigate and verify cause-and-effect relationships I mprove or optimize the current process based on data analysis C ontrol the future state process to ensure that deviations from target are corrected before they result in defects
D efine design goals consistent with customer demands and enterprise strategy M easure and identify characteristics critical to quality, product capabilities, production-process capabilities and risks A nalyze to develop and design alternatives D esign an improved alternative, best suited per analysis V erify the design, set up pilot runs, implement the production process and hand it over to the process owners
Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53026
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Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53027
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GRASSHOPPER TO MASTER SO WHAT DO ALL OF THOSE SIX SIGMA BELTS MEAN? White Belt – Employee with basic training in Six Sigma who doesn’t participate in projects Yellow Belt – Employee trained in Six Sigma who participates generally in projects Green Belt – Employee who assumes Six Sigma implementation along with other job responsibilities, guided by Black Belts Black Belt – Operates under Master Black Belts to apply methodology to specific projects, devoting all work time to Six Sigma Master Black Belt – Selected by Champions to assist them and to guide lower belts, identifying Six Sigma projects and functions Champion – Responsible for Six Sigma implementation throughout the organization, drawn from upper management Executive Leadership – CEO and other top management, responsible for establishing the Six Sigma vision
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were found and corrected? “Unacceptable back-shop process times in our retail stores were identified through time studies and Pareto analysis,” Schroeder says. “Process correction was applied through the application of a step-by-step wheel installation policy, a back-shop tool-placement and layout standardization and a work order barcode scanner to ensure the highest level of program sustainability and data collection. “The application of Lean and Six Sigma tools has helped us reduce variability in our distribution routing and delivery process,” he adds. “Many more improvement opportunities, too numerous to address, have been exposed and are in some state of correction and further study.” Dunn’s combined use of Lean and Six Sigma, however, raises questions about how the two systems co-exist and complement one another. “At Dunn, we’ve chosen to concentrate on the use of Lean and its tenet of ‘plan-do-check-act,’ as it is more readily accepted and applies more appropriately to the non-statistician that you find common to the tire industry,” Schroeder explains. “The Lean P-D-C-A and the Six Sigma define-measure-analyzeimprove-control cycles have much in common in function and form, but Lean allows us to move at a greater speed. (See sidebar for more information on process cycles.) “In our industry, we must often work from a very controlled seatof-the-pants point of view, to allow
us to ensure value but also to adapt quickly to the changing needs of our customers, both internal and external,” he adds. “We have chosen to use Six Sigma as our data-driven chainsaw-in-thecloset. We Lean it out first. If that proves to be unsuccessful for process correction or the removal of waste, we then tear the process apart using that Six Sigma chainsaw and use the data drill to pluck out the errors and defects.” Exactly what statistics has Dunn evaluated in this “non-statistician’s” industry? Schroeder says the company has looked at: • Process function time data, to create greater process flow, increase value and shorten process time; • Communication system data, to properly size staffing and create better manpower planning and growth; • Vehicle year, make and model data, to aid in forecasting and inventory placement; • Product pick/ship flow data, to improve warehouse floor operations and to add value for the end-user. Dunn used statistics-analyzing computer software, called Minitab, to help with the data drilling, along with Microsoft Excel. In the end, costs were reduced and process time was shortened. “Right-sizing manpower, controlling tool-and-equipment costs, improving call-and-contact flow, and the greater assurance of quality by enhancing the perception of process ownership at all levels” all were
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■ FEATURE: achieved, according to Schroeder. And the only significant detriment to that achievement, he says, was simply resistance to change. “That’s always a condition we must combat,” Schroeder says. “There are those who are not as willing to accept new concepts and culture.” Criticisms leveled at Six Sigma by detractors include its similarity to pre-
vious improvement programs; its rigidity and potential to inhibit creativity in the name of process; its overselling by improperly educated consultants; and other issues rooted in math and statistics. Nevertheless, Schroeder credits Dunn’s upper management for initiating the Six Sigma change and seeing it through.
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“After their own Platinum Belt training, our executive team has led a successful culture change,” he says. “Their passion for value has been exhibited daily in the way in which they conduct their daily interactions with our people. They understand the value of a true Lean Six Sigma champion, and that true change can only start at the top.” ■
MATH-NERD ALERT: DEFINING ‘SIX SIGMA’ Here is the geek explanation for Six Sigma: Sigma units, represented by the Greek letter ‘sigma’ (Σ), quantify the standard deviations between the process mean and the nearest specification limit. If six standard deviations exist between the mean and the nearest limit, virtually no items will fail to meet specifications, based on process capability studies. A manufacturing process’ maturity has a sigma rating that shows its yield or percentage of defect-free products. A Six Sigma process has 99.99966% of manufactured products statistically expected to be defect-free. Motorola, which holds a registered trademark for Six Sigma, set a goal of “six sigma” for its manufacturing operations when it began developing the process in 1985. That goal became a catch phrase for the initiative, which by the late 1990s had been implemented by two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies. When General Electric announced in 1998 that it saved $350 million – and later more than $1 billion – thanks to Six Sigma, the methodology found its way into businesses everywhere. Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53029 TireReview.com 29
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TOPSHOP FEATURE
SHANA O’MALLEY Contributing Editor
Tred Shed Tire Pros Community involvement, unique entertainment – this dealership is a pro at commanding attention
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s Craig Schoenthaler prepares for retirement, the Tred Shed Tire Pros owner takes comfort knowing his son Kyle and the team he has built will keep things running smoothly while he enjoys his golden years. The Pittsburg, Calif., shop has been in business for 33 years and has been part of the ATD Tire Pros family for two decades. Schoenthaler’s success didn’t happen overnight – it’s a result of his dedication to doing good work for customers, being involved in his community and taking advantage of the Tire Pros network. Schoenthaler’s journey into the tire business began in 1981. After serving in the Navy for six years, he returned to northern California to help his father manage a company called Maverick Tire Supply Inc. “Maverick Tire Supply was a wholesale distributor of primarily truck 30 August 2013 | TireReview
Tred Shed grew from being a secondary business with one bay into a 1,000-tire-permonth retailer – with a real train horn.
tires,” explains Schoenthaler. “My dad brought Sumitomo tires into the county in 1981.” While working with his dad, Schoenthaler realized there was a need for a quality tire store in his hometown of Pittsburg. “I told my old man, ‘We ought to think of opening a little retail shop in town,’ so we did. We opened a oneman, one-bay store and that’s all we did was tires.” Schoenthaler explains Tred Shed started off modestly and grew slowly. After a few years, he added a second bay and began offering alignments along with tires. “Then people wanted us to do brakes, so we started progressing into auto repairs, too,” he says. After a few years of building a repu-
tation through word of mouth and a quarter-page Yellow Pages ad, Schoenthaler decided to purchase another shop in nearby Antioch. “My brother ran the one in Antioch,” Schoenthaler says. “It only lasted about two years because (the city of) Antioch was taking our building away. They were putting a street right through it. So we consolidated stores into a new building here in Pittsburg.” He also signed onto the Tire Pros network, which he says has been an invaluable experience. “It sounded like a cool thing to do, it sounded like I got to hang out with other cool tire guys so I signed on with them,” he explains. “I got real involved with Tire Pros. I used their marketing, the power of the group and the power of the sellers in the organization.”
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Schoenthaler worked his way up, starting as a member of the Tire Pros Dealer Council and later serving as president of the Tire Pros National Tire Dealer Council. “I got to travel a lot around the country and meet other tire dealers like me,” he says proudly.
Current Operations Tred Shed today is “top of the line,” featuring six bays inside and the capability to do additional service outside, as well. “We’ve really turned into a mainframe retail shop,” says Schoenthaler. On the service side, the dealership works on everything from air conditioners to fuel systems to batteries and almost everything in between. “We do lots of preventative maintenance. We do over 500 oil changes a month. We try to do at least 1,000 tires a month.” As an independent dealer, the shop carries most major tire brands including Michelin, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone and Hankook. Schoenthaler says he’s proud to offer top quality products, so he doesn’t carry off-brand tires and the shop does not install parts brought in by customers. “That’s like taking a steak to a steakhouse and asking a chef to cook it for you,” he says. “We pride ourselves on using quality products and quality staff to install them.” He says the service customers receive from employees at Tred Shed is just as important as the products offered. He adds that having a “can do” attitude is what he looks for first and foremost in an employee. “I want my guys to want to fix your car as if it were
Kyle with father and business founder Craig Schoenthaler are serious about treating customers right – but take a rather fun and family approach to the day-to-day.
their car,” says Schoenthaler. All of his technicians are well-trained and certified, and he says they regularly take advantage of new training opportunities and refresher courses when they’re offered locally.
Added Touches
Guarding the giant ball of tire labels is Tred Shed mascot and customer service chief Sally Sue.
32 August 2013 | TireReview
Along with providing excellent work, Schoenthaler also prides himself on providing excellent customer entertainment. “One of the things we did, without my wife’s permission (she is the chief financial officer) is Kyle and I and the management team voted to spend $400 on this old locomotive train horn,” explains Shoenthaler. “It’s a 165-decibel horn and it is so cool!” Schoenthaler says customers who buy a set of four tires have the opportunity to blow the train horn. “You can hear it all the way to city hall!” he says, adding that the town has been surprisingly supportive of the idea. “We thought for sure we would get in trouble, that someone would complain about it, but thankfully nobody has,” he notes. Tred Shed also offers an oil change punch card so customers who buy five oil changes also get to blow the horn. Along with the unique train horn, the shop also has a mascot – Shoenthaler’s dog, Sally Sue. “She has worked here for six years,” he says. “She’s a little white dog and she’s very friendly. She hangs out with the customers. She greets you at the door and she jumps on your lap while you’re waiting.” He says she’s also great with customer service.
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Hardly a shed, Tred Shed’s purpose-built store in Pittsburg, Calif., consolidated the business of two locations.
“She’s been known to defuse some unhappy customers,” he jokes. “They can be ticked off about something one minute but as soon as they see Sally, they change their mood.” In his 33 years of business, Shoenthaler says his favorite part of owning Tred Shed is taking care of customers. “These folks come in to get their car
34 August 2013 | TireReview
fixed, but they’re also asking about my kids and I’m asking about their kids,” he says. “We’re all like family.” Tred Shed has been involved in countless community activities, from sponsoring little league to helping with community events. “I’ve got five kids so we have sponsored a number of sporting events and high school events
Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53034
and community events,” he says. With his son Kyle taking the reins, Shoenthaler says it’s been fun to watch the transition. “He’s going to take over for me. It’s cool because as I’ve watched Kyle grow up, we’ve taken care of lots of people in the community. It’s very close-knit. When the kids were in school they played baseball, and I watched all these kids grow up. Now they are Kyle’s age and he’s taking care of their cars now. The transition has been fun to watch.” Schoenthaler doesn’t have an official retirement date in mind, but says he estimates he’ll be ready in the next year or two. “I’m still going to come and hang out because it’s fun to hang out here,” he says. “We have ‘groupies’ that hang out at Tred Shed because it’s so much fun.” He says he’s looking forward to spending more time on his boat and traveling with his wife in their RV. ■
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TIRES FEATURE
JOANNE DRAUS KLEIN Contributing Editor
More Big Gains Giant OTR market, driven by the mining industry, remains strong
I
t’s not exactly a gold mine, but experts say the giant OTR tire market is strong and getting stronger, thanks largely to conditions in the mining industry. “The current giant OTR supplyand-demand situation has improved from what it had been a few years ago,” says Bruce Besancon, director of marketing for Michelin North America’s earthmover tire division. “This is due to many factors, of which the primary factor is that mining customers have become much better maintenance managers of their tires and the conditions in which they operate. A great deal of focus over the last few years has been on how to increase the life and productivity of tires on the machines in mining activity. This has paid off for all those involved.” “We expect a plateauing in 2013 due to mining companies using their own inventory that they previously built up,” adds Tim Easter, director of OTR sales at Yokohama Tire Corp. “Going out through 2016, we anticipate some ramping up in growth, due to demand 36 August 2013 | TireReview
growing modestly and manufacturers expanding their production and output to improve supply.” Easter says some key sizes – 27.00R49 and 33.00R51, for example – are showing improvement in supply, though somewhat of a shortage still exists in 57and 63-inch sizes. But Matt Johnson, vice president of the Global Mining Group at Purcell Tire and Rubber Co., doesn’t foresee too much of a lack of supply. “The shortage is over for the time being,” he says. “I expect there to be excess tire capacity in 2013-15 as the manufacturers have announced expan-
sion plans. The coal market has not shown any signs of recovery, and gold prices are falling. I expect manufacturers to sign more long-term agreements with their surplus production and to sell future production capabilities.” “We saw the mining industry continue to be consistent in demand for tires during 2012,” Besancon explains. “Because of the diversity in mining, some commodities had weaker demand than in previous years, but overall it was a strong year for tire sales. The outlook for mining is still positive over the next few years, though it may not have the double-digit growth seen
“A GREAT DEAL OF FOCUS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN ON HOW TO INCREASE THE LIFE AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TIRES ON THE MACHINES IN MINING ACTIVITY.” – BRUCE BESANCON, director of marketing for Michelin North America
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in previous years. It’s still a very strong and demanding market.” Before the market picks up, however, Johnson sees a quick downturn – the same phenomenon that Easter predicts. “I expect the market to see a small reduction in sales as many customers that use 57-inch and up sizes will be reducing their inventories, thus buying fewer tires,” Johnson explains. “Following reduction of customer inventories, I expect that strong OTR dealers in the market will start to gain
38 August 2013 | TireReview
traction and grow as they gain new business and have access to the correct tires to support their growth needs. Full-service OTR tire companies will shine as mining companies will value the lower operating costs (they) can provide by improving efficiencies, such as through reduced tire consumption.” Easter further breaks down the trend. “During the first eight months or so of 2012, demand was relatively high and there was a shortage of supply globally,” he says. “Toward the end of
the year, we started to see dips in demand with the OE segment slowing down more compared to the replacement segment. Today, despite the lower demand, the shortage continues partly because of the time it takes to develop and create new manufacturing facilities for giant OTR tires.”
Demands/Solutions Changes in the mining industry and market also are the impetus behind changes in large OTR tires themselves. “One of the issues facing the industry these days is the changing requirements of mining operation vehicles,” Easter says. “Trucks are getting bigger and hauls are getting longer. Manufacturers have to develop products that will withstand the required conditions. New technological trends include compounds that are more heat-resistant, as well as tread patterns that dissipate heat for those longer hauls. “For shorter hauls,” he adds, “which require tight operations, better compounds are being developed to resist severe tire cuts while in operation.” Besancon agrees that increasing large mining tires’ productivity and longevity is one of two trends in the OTR segment. To that end, he says, Michelin has launched its XDR2, with extended tire life and productivity. The other trend, he says, is attending to the maintenance and safety of the tires. That focus has been met by the introduction of Michelin’s MEMS (Michelin Earthmover Management System) Evolution 2. The new version of MEMS provides mining operators with data about tire usage conditions, Besancon says. Temperature and pressure are constantly monitored to optimize driving and safety conditions, as well as tire performance. The system uses a latest-generation TPMS sensor as well as new, improved system software. This new version also provides: direct access to data regardless of where the vehicle is located; userfriendly interfaces for operators and data analysts; greater flexibility for the operator’s information service; and wireless communication with software. Meanwhile, Easter says Yokohama compliments its product performance – which includes a claimed four-time retreading capability – with three servicebased components in the OTR segment. The first, he says, is the com-
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pany’s ability to adapt quickly. “We listen to our customers’ unique job requirements and are able to meet their needs quickly with customized solutions,” he says. “An example of this is our ability to change our compounds to fit a customer’s job conditions.” Next, he says, is an “ease of doing business” with mining customers, perhaps largely due to the third component: in-depth knowledge. Yokohama’s field sales personnel have an average of 20 years of experience in the mining industry, he says. Johnson calls a similar focus on service at Purcell a “cradle-to-grave” effort, “and as such we manage the tire through every step of its life, including retreading and repair,” he says. “We also help our customer manage their sites by suggesting improvements to haul-road maintenance and design, and by providing operator training. We are involved in their safety programs with active roles in training and product awareness. What really sets us apart is our people and the shared vision we have developed as a team.” But Besancon says that the most im-
40 August 2013 | TireReview
portant thing to end-users in the giant OTR segment is safety. “Tire dealers and servicing personnel need to keep this in mind – to always send trained
Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53040
and qualified people to service tires,” he says. “Never allow someone who hasn’t been completely trained in the proper methods of handling, mounting or dismounting earthmover tires to work on any piece of equipment. “This is why Michelin continues to offer the TIA Basic Earthmover Tire Service Course – a course that’s the standard in the industry,” he adds. “Michelin feels so strongly about this issue that we translated the materials of the course into Spanish so that the entire industry and all personnel could benefit from it.” Easter lists other factors as being important to end-users, as well. Among them are: cost per hour, which considers a tire’s treadlife, retreadability and durability; reliability, as downtime can be costly; and availability. “For dealers,” he says, “it’s important to have the ability to track endusers’ tires, to be knowledgeable in proper maintenance and service, and to be knowledgeable in recommending the proper tires for various applications.” ■
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SERVICE FEATURE
LARRY CARLEY Contributing Writer
R
otating electrical components, such as starters and alternators, often have to be replaced on older, high-mileage vehicles. Fuel injection has helped prolong the service life of starters by allowing engines to start more quickly when they are cranked; such is not the case with alternators. Higher electrical demands on the charging systems in most late-model vehicles and high underhood temperatures have helped increase heat-related alternator failures. A starter that’s failing may crank the engine too slowly for a quick start, or it may not crank the engine at all. Frequently the problem is not the starter, but a low battery or a loose or corroded battery cable connection. So, one of the first things that should be checked is battery charge and condition. A good battery should be capable of accepting and holding a charge from a battery charger, and should be at least 75% charged (12.5 volts or higher when checked with a digital volt meter with the engine and ignition off and no load on the battery). If the battery’s voltage is low and it doesn’t take a charge, your customer needs a new battery, not a starter. Load-testing the battery or using a conductance tester to check its ability to take and store a charge also can confirm the need for replacing the battery. The average service life of a car battery is only about four to five years, and can be shorter in hot climates. So consider the age of the bat-
Starter & Alternator Replacement Rotating electrics in older vehicles make for added sales opportunities
42 August 2013 | TireReview
tery when evaluating its condition. If a customer is not sure what might be causing a cranking problem, bench-test their old starter. If the starter tests good, the slowcranking or no-cranking problem is obviously something other than
the starter. Check the battery, battery cables, starter relay (if the vehicle has one) and the starter circuit and wiring connections for possible faults. If the starter tests bad because the cranking RPMs are too
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low, there is excessive current draw or it fails to spin at all, you can sell the customer a new or remanufactured starter with a high degree of confidence. Excessive starter draw can be caused by high resistance within the starter itself, worn brushes, or grounds or opens in the armature or coil windings. It also can result from increased internal friction due to shaft bushings that bind, or an armature or magnets that are rubbing inside the starter. A loose starter may crank an engine slowly, noisily or not at all. Loose bolts will make for a weak ground connection. The starter may also flop around, slip, chatter Fuel injection has helped prolong the service life of starters by allowing engines to start more or fail to engage, de- quickly when they are cranked, but such is not the case with alternators. Higher electrical demands pending on how on the charging systems in most late-model vehicles and high underhood temperatures have loose it is. helped increase heat-related alternator failures. Sometimes a starter will spin but clutch mechanism that you can starter drive. A starter drive that is won’t crank the engine. This is usucheck once the starter is out of the on the verge of failure may engage ally an engagement problem due to car (and replace if necessary). briefly but then slip. The starter a weak solenoid or a defective If good, the drive should turn drive has a one-way overrunning
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freely in one direction but not in the other. A bad drive will turn freely in both directions or not at all. If a drive locks up, it can over-rev and destroy the starter.
Charging Problems The first sign of trouble when an alternator is failing (or has failed) is a low or dead battery. On a latemodel vehicle, not only can that cause a no-start, it also can cause the loss of “learned” data in the powertrain control module and other modules throughout the vehicle. In some cases, certain modules may not regain their normal function after the battery has been recharged and/or the charging problem repaired because the module requires a special relearn procedure (which may require using a scan tool to reset or reinitiate the module). The output of the charging system on a vehicle can be checked with a digital voltmeter while the engine is idling. A charging system that is working properly should
THE OUTPUT OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM ON A VEHICLE CAN BE CHECKED WITH A DIGITAL VOLTMETER WHILE THE ENGINE IS IDLING. produce a charging voltage of somewhere around 13.5 to 14 volts at idle with the lights and accessories off (always refer to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications). When the engine is first started, the charging voltage should rise quickly to about two volts above base battery voltage, and then taper off, leveling out at the specified voltage. The exact charging voltage will vary according to the battery’s state of charge, the load on the vehicle’s electrical system, and temperature. The lower the temperature the higher the charging voltage, and the higher the temperature the lower the charging voltage. The normal charging voltage on a typical application might be 13.9
Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53046 46 August 2013 | TireReview
to 15.1 volts at 77˚F. But at -20˚F, the charging voltage might be 14.9 to 15.8 volts. On a hot engine on a hot day, the normal charging voltage might drop to 13.5 to 14.3 volts. If the charging output is low, the alternator can be bench-tested to see if it is good or bad. Make sure you use the correct wiring adapters for the unit and that all of the connections are made properly. The bench tester will check the alternator’s voltage and current output. Also look for “ripple voltage” or alternating current leakage that would indicate bad diodes inside the alternator. If the alternator tests bad, your customer needs a new or remanufactured replacement alternator. You might use the opportunity to recommend a higher-output alternator if the customer’s vehicle is equipped with high-load electrical accessories, like a mega-watt stereo system. If the alternator tests good, the problem is not the alternator, but something in the wiring or the charging system control circuitry. High circuit resistance and ground connection resistance can cause low charging output. Circuit resistance can be checked by connecting a volt meter to the positive battery terminal and the positive terminal on the alternator. With the engine running and the headlights on, there should be less than half a volt drop, and ideally less than one-tenth of a volt drop. A higher reading would indicate too much resistance. The same test can be repeated using the battery negative terminal and the alternator housing to check for excessive resistance on the ground side of the circuit. If the wiring checks out OK, the problem could be in the voltage regulating circuitry inside the powertrain control module. On many late-model vehicles, charging
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■ FEATURE: output can be varied depending on operating conditions, as well as electrical load. Problems with other sensor inputs or a defect in the control module itself may prevent the alternator from charging the battery properly. A slipping drive belt is another common cause of undercharging, especially with V-belts on older vehicles. Serpentine belts usually provide a better grip, but if the automatic tensioner is weak or stuck, it can allow the belt to slip under load. Glazing on the belt or belt noise when high-load electrical accessories are turned on with the engine idling can be signs that the belt is slipping. Alternator slippage and undercharging also can be caused by a bad alternator pulley. Overrunning alternator pulleys (OAP) are used on a number of late-model import and domestic vehicles. OAP have a one-way clutch inside the center of the pulley that slips and allows the pulley to free-wheel when engine speed suddenly drops. This reduces NVH in the belt drive system, but may cause a charging problem if the clutch slips when it should be gripping. Another type of pulley is the overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD) pulley. This type of pulley combines a one-way clutch with a torsion spring to decouple and absorb torsional vibrations in the belt drive system. This provides much quieter and smoother operation than either a solid pulley or an overrunning alternator pulley, especially at lower engine speeds (from idle to about 1,500 RPM). But it also can cause slipping and charging problems if the clutch or decoupler spring is defective.
usually requires a gear puller to pull the pulley off the alternator shaft. But on some applications, a threaded OAP or OAD pulley may be used and a special tool may be required to get it off. Solid pulleys are usually just mounted on the alternator shaft with a light press fit and are held in place with a large hex nut and washer on the end of the shaft. By comparison, OAP and OAD pulleys are usually threaded onto the alternator shaft and require a special splined tool that fits inside the pulley to remove them. A small protective cap on the outside of an OAP or OAD pulley also has to be pried off to change the pulley. OAP and OAD pulleys are more complicated and expensive than ordinary solid pulleys, but are installed on the alternator for a reason. Replacing an OAP or OAD pulley with a less expensive solid pulley is possible, but that may defeat the purpose of the original pulley and may result in increased
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NVH, reduced belt and tensioner life and customer complaints. When a new or remanufactured alternator is installed on a highmileage vehicle, recommend a new drive belt too. OE belts made of EPDM synthetic rubber are highmileage belts capable of lasting upward of 100,000 miles. Unlike older belts made of less durable rubber, they don’t crack with age. But they do wear. It’s difficult to see how much the grooves on the underside of the belt may be worn, so belt manufacturers have created special belt wear tools that can check the depth of the grooves to reveal how much they are worn. The operation of the automatic belt tensioner also should be checked to make sure it is working correctly and is capable of maintaining proper belt tension. Rust and corrosion can cause old tensioners to bind, and a weak or broken spring may prevent it from keeping the belt tight. ■
Alternator Replacement Some replacement alternators come with a pulley already installed and some do not. If the replacement alternator comes with a pulley, make sure the pulley matches the original (same diameter, width and belt type). No pulley means your customer will have to swap the pulley from the old alternator to the replacement. Removing a conventional solid pulley Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53047 TireReview.com 47
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TPMS
Real-World TPMS Tips & Tricks I
f you’re a tire dealer or technician, you probably already know that TPMS has been mandatory equipment on all cars since 2007. You’re probably also well aware that many of your customers do not know this, nor do they generally know much about the fragile nature of the sensors inside their tires. This can sometimes cause some customer/dealer conflict, especially in the area of the corrosion issues to which TPMS valve stems have proven particularly – and fatally – vulnerable. Corrosion problems plague nearly every part of the valve stem. Metal parts rust-weld themselves to the stem and freeze. Mistakenly install a brass valve core into the stem and within a short period of time it will be impossible to remove without destroying the internal threads. Best of all, each type of corrosion weakens the sensor stem itself, making the act of trying to remove stuck parts without breaking the stem an exercise fraught with danger.
Removing Stuck Parts Andrew Pearl, a manager at Direct Tire & Auto Service in Boston, gave me his magic trick for loosening corroded parts. “A little PB Blaster, let it sit and just work it out, as opposed to one good pull. You just work it back and forth and sometimes you get lucky.” Mike Ryan, a manager for a nearby Firestone Complete Auto Care, agrees. “We were able to take PB Blaster and basically just soak the living heck out of the area where they’re stuck together…they were 48 August 2013 | TireReview
Straight from the field, several service tips for reducing comebacks and putting customers at ease
able to break free if you move it slowly.” Ryan notes he had even tested PB Blaster against “a different kind” of
SEAN PHILLIPS Contributing Editor
“Many of the threads [of the corroded TPMS sensor stems] that the nut goes onto tend to basically turn into dust,” Ryan adds. To make this process even more complex, there also are the NHTSA regulations on TPMS, which basically say that if a sensor breaks before it gets into your shop, you can put in a temporary rubber valve stem if you have to, but if it breaks in your shop you can’t release the car until the TPMS sensor is replaced. Some frustration was expressed by many of my interviewees at the effects of “irreparable longterm corrosion” being defined by NHTSA as “breaking in your shop.”
Replacement Availability
Corrosion weakens the TPMS sensor stem, making the act of removing stuck parts without breaking the stem an exercise fraught with danger.
penetrating oil. “We got the PB one off, and then we had to clean the other one off and use PB on it to get it loose.” However, sometimes not even the power of PB will help. Weakened valve stems will often break under the least amount of torque, and quite often even if you get the nut loose, the damage already has been done.
This, of course, means that dealers and techs must have quick access to replacement sensors in an environment where covering the market involves a very large number of sensor SKUs. “I do know that there have been times when we needed to keep a customer’s car” due to lack of replacement sensors, says Keith Cudgma, a district manager for Firestone Complete Auto Care. Since few installers will actually carry the wide variety of replacement sensors needed to cover the industry, they rely on the quick availability of OE and aftermarket sensors from dealers and auto parts wholesalers. Pearl agrees that the availability of OE sensors is much better than it had been in the early years of TPMS. “Typically dealers have [OE sensors] on the shelf because it’s a known problem,” Ryan
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■ TIRES:
TPMS
concurs. “I would say that I can probably get 80%-90% stem. It’s the same principle, basically. You have rubber of the sensors that are out there.” in there – it dries out, the seal may leak from that. You The two managers differ widely in their assessment don’t want that to happen.” of aftermarket sensors, however, with Pearl dismissing As to customer opposition, Ryan says he has not seen replacement sensors that “don’t pick up readings” as “more headache >TAKEAWAYS than they’re worth,” and Ryan praising them. “There’s very, very few • CORRODED VALVE STEM? TRY PB BLASTER that when you install them you have any issues with…same as the OE as far as compatibility.” • KEEP REPLACEMENT SENSORS IN STOCK
Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53050
Ounce of Prevention
• PROPER MAINTENANCE PREVENTS CORROSION
Especially vulnerable or not, the only real key to preventing corrosion • CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION IS VITAL is proper maintenance of the parts. That’s why the service packs, which contain replacements for every small part that attaches any problems with the cost of service packs “because to the valve stem – the nut, valve core, valve cap and they cost pretty much the same as a valve stem used to any rubber gaskets necessary to seal the valve stem hole cost.” – are so important. While some customers do seem to think that the serv- Communication is Key As difficult as it may be to deal with corroded valve ice pack is really just some kind of boondoggle so that stems, dealing with the customer can sometimes be tire dealers can charge more, nothing could be further more difficult if not handled correctly. Everyone we from the truth. It’s critically necessary to change these spoke with stressed the extreme importance of commuparts often to ensure proper TPMS function, to keep cornication at every step. rosion from taking hold inside the threads, and to keep Cudgma notes, “It comes down to the communicathe rubber gaskets from drying out and cracking. tion. If the communication is handled properly and the “It’s really just like the old days,” says Ryan. “Whencustomer is informed, there are no surprises. But if you ever we were going to do a tire we’d replace the valve break it and then inform the customer, it normally doesn’t go real well.” What that mostly means is telling the customer first if you even think that a valve stem might break. If you predict to the customer that something might break before it happens, when it does happen they will at the very least know that it did not happen out of carelessness. Ryan stresses the value of being prepared for possible issues. “And if you know of some vehicles that usually have more [corrosion] problems than others, like Dodge or Chrysler, for instance, you know who to tell, ‘Hey, we’ll probably have a problem. We’ll try not to, but…’” At Firestone Complete Auto Care, Cudgma informs, “If we’re going to service the tire and it looks like the TPMS sensor is going to break or require replacement, then we inform the customer prior to starting the job. If we end up breaking it and we haven’t informed the customer, we replace the sensor at no charge.” It also means you have to let the customer know honestly what the expense might be. “You definitely have to be upfront and honest with the customer. Hands down you have to do that,” Pearl agrees. “Some people will get frustrated,” adds Ryan. “I don’t think they realize the expense that can be involved with TPMS. It’s like with early runflat tires. People didn’t realize they were going to last 30,000 miles and there was no spare and you were going to have to spend $1,200 for a replacement set. People are starting to get used to it. “Usually I can make people happy about what they were mad about.” ■ 50 August 2013 | TireReview
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TIRES
OTR
Preparing for Winter Tire Sales S
ummer is in full swing and while winter may not even be on your radar, now is the time to focus on firming up orders for accounts that require grader tires to help keep the roads clean throughout the cold and snowy season. Earlier this year, winter refused to go away, leaving many states with late snowstorms that kept the graders working well into the spring. Then the rains came and brought additional challenges in road upkeep in many states. With the additional use, demand for grader tires could be much higher than in years past. This time of year many customers require your focus, as equipment uptime is critical for construction and quarry operations. This being true, many salespeople tend to wait to solicit the winter grader tire orders until September or October. For some, the process starts when the phone call comes from the account asking for grader tires. But by that point, it may be too late – depending on the demand and supply from the manufacturer – for the sizes required. Selecting the correct grader tire design and manufacturer is important to both the customer and, most importantly, the operator. It used to be easy as all agencies used the bias G2 Sure Grip design in a 13.00-24, 14.00-24 or 17.5-25. Today, graders use sizes from a 1300R24 through a 29.5R29, and for most government agencies and contractors, the common sizes range from 1300R24 to 23.5R25. As graders have become more productive, the bias tire is no longer the choice for new graders. Many ap52 August 2013 | TireReview
Before the snow starts flying, it’s a great time to review customer needs for grader tires
plications now require radials. Additionally, graders can be equipped with a “V” plow in the front, the regular blade fitted for the machine, and a hydraulic wing plow that extends out from the main blade for
TIM GOOD Contributing Editor
Selling a government agency should not be any different than working with one of your quarry or construction customers. It is just as important and will help you retain the business for many years.
Working with a government agency on its winter grader tires should be no different than working with a quarry or construction customer.
snow removal. These attachments not only create extra weight, the torque required to move the grader puts additional demand on the tire. With that being said, how many times have you talked to a government agency or customer about the importance of air pressure checks for their grader tires? Be sure to check and verify that there is a maintenance program in place to check the pressure at least weekly. Next, have you done a complete tire inspection on the graders like you do for your other customers?
Grader Load and Inflation What is the correct air pressure for the grader tire? This is a very difficult question and one that takes time to address. Until you know the weight of the grader with all attachments, you will 0not be able to determine the proper air pressure. To help address the additional demand on the tires, many manufacturers are producing their grader tires as two-star rated just to handle the extra loads. Remember that grader tires are rated for a maximum speed of 25 mph. If the grader exceeds the Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53122
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■ TIRES: maximum allowable speed, then you will have to take that into consideration and adjust the pressure based on that anticipated maximum speed. The greater the speed, the less the tire can carry. For example, at 30 mph the load capacity is reduced 9%. The chart below shows load capacity based on the speed of the grader; the information, which came from the Bridgestone Americas OTR databook, shows in more detail the effect of speed versus loads.
Maximum Speed
tires to maximize the performance of the grader. Talk with the customer to determine if they are satisfied with what tire is currently being used or if a better alternative is required. In the snowy regions of North America, customers tend to favor allseason tread designs due to their excellent traction and ride. While there are many offerings today, they are not the same. For example, the lugs will vary from wide to narrow, the tread radius from wide and flat to
% Change to Loads With No Increase in Infl. Pressure
40 km/h (25 mph)
No Change
50 km/h (30 mph)
-9%
60 km/h (35 mph)
-18%
65 km/h (40 mph)
-27%
This chart, which shows load capacity based on the speed of the grader, details the effect of speed versus load. (Courtesy of Bridgestone Americas OTR databook)
Just as with haulage and loader tires, the same rule applies: for every 1% change in the load on the tire, the inflation pressure must be increased by 2% to a maximum of 14% in total. However, the pressure cannot exceed the manufacturer’s specifications noted in its engineering databook. To be on the safe side, you should always contact the manufacturer sales representative or the tire engineer to ensure that the suggested air pressure is correct to properly carry the load safely. Graders are very sensitive machines. That is why the tandem axles must have the same tire construction at all wheel positions – all radial or all bias tires. Do not try to mix construction types, regardless of how convenient it may be for you or the customer. It also is very important to stay within the grader manufacturer’s specification for maximum overall diameter difference allowed. Any deviation from this spec could cause damage to the grader drivetrain.
Optimal Tread Designs Traction and ride are critical, so the customer looks for the best tread design in both new and retreaded Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53123
narrow and more rounded, etc. Even siping in the tread can make a major difference in traction in rain, slush and snow. Another issue is whether the tire design holds stones. There is nothing worse than an operator complaining about a grader traveling from dirt to a hard surface and throwing a stone. This could cause some damage to the machine or to a vehicle following or passing the machine – not to mention stone retention that could damage the tire and casing. Talk with the customer to determine what they are looking for and what issues they have encountered – if any. You can then make a solid product offering to meet their expectations. Many agencies use chains for traction, but through the years many operators have found that some all-season grader tires offer the required traction and they have discontinued using chains. If chains are still used, you need to make sure that they fit the tire and that the links do not wedge down between the lugs. In time, the links will work into the casing, possibly taking the tire out of service before the tire is worn out and resulting in a casing that is ineligible for retreading.
OTR
When fitted properly, chains work well but require more maintenance. Be sure to work closely with the chain manufacturer. Provide the needed training for the customer on the proper maintenance practices to maximize the life of the chains and tires.
Success with Government Contracts Many salespeople see government business as easy and low maintenance, but it is no different than your construction, mining or quarry business. Government agencies are looking for ways to reduce tire and service costs, working on tight annual budgets that most likely are being reduced each year. So what can you do? • Start by asking questions about current applications, operating environment and concerns • Do a complete survey of the graders and drive some of the routes to better understand the surfaces and conditions on which the graders operate • Explain your findings and make your recommendation as to the correct tire and air pressure to maximize the performance of the tire • Monitor the performance and provide the customer with tire records showing details about inflation pressures, wear rates and the resulting cost per hour or mile (depending on how the customer measures tire performance) Be proactive and take the extra step with government agencies, the same as you would for other customers. Set up regular inflation maintenance programs, offer training to the operators and share the performance data quarterly. This will help to determine the best tire for the operation and can tighten up the service and maintenance needs. Sell what fits the application and not what has been sold in the past. There are a lot of great offerings for grader fitment; be sure to recommend the tire you feel will work the best and cover the features and benefits. Last, be sure to ask for the order as you would for your other customers. Planning now and setting up your calls to the government agencies will pay long-term benefits. The snow will be back in some areas in the next two to three months. ■ TireReview.com 53
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SOLUTIONS
SPOTLIGHT
Product Spotlight Vehicle Lifts & Accessories The newest lifts and lift accessories are strong and versatile, giving shops the most bang for their buck. Designed with safety and productivity in mind, the latest lift technology also is quick and easy to operate. Here are some of the newest offerings in this product category.
HENNESSY INDUSTRIES Hennessy Industries introduced a new line of automotive lifts under the Baseline by Coats brand. Designed specifically for shops that want quality lifts at affordable prices, Baseline by Coats offers a comprehensive selection of lift styles, including two-post, four-post, motorcycle/ATV, mid-rise and parking lifts. With a 11,000-pound capacity, the BL211CF is one of the most versatile lifts featured in the new line, according to the manufacturer. The two-post lift can accommodate cars, light- to medium-duty vans, and utility trucks – especially those with uneven load distribution or payload, the maker added. ammcoats.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53150 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53150
MOHAWK LIFTS Mohawk Lifts introduced the Backsaver for all Mohawk 10,000- to 18,000-pound two-post lifts. The Backsaver allows technicians to hang the tires from lift swing arms, saving them from bending down to lift heavy tires and preventing potential sick days from back pain, according to Mohawk. The Backsaver is easily installed in 10 minutes and with a 100-pound capacity, is capable of holding the heaviest passenger car and light truck tires. Heavy rubber coating on the Backsaver prevents damage to expensive wheels and rims, the manufacturer added. mohawklifts.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53151 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53151
KIENE DIESEL Kiene Diesel said its new Extender adapter for the K-1350 wheel grabber allows one technician to safely remove seized wheels without having to remove the vehicle from the lift. According to the maker, the wheel grabber is a wellestablished tool for removing seized wheels from heavy-duty tractors, trailers and buses, as well as Ford super-duty applications. It allows one technician to quickly and safely remove the most stubborn of seized wheels. In addition to the new extension, Kiene said it has developed another wheel grabber adapter to remove seized brake drums. kienediesel.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53152 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53152
54 August 2013 | TireReview
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■ SOLUTIONS: HUNTER Hunter said its RX16 lift rack is now shipping with new generation 9,000-pound swing air jacks, which make vehicle service easier and safer with lower clearance height and a sixinch wider reach that allows for more pickup options. The jacks represent the first groundup redesign of Hunter’s swing air jack that was designed by Lee Hunter himself more than 40 years ago, the company added. Hunter also released a new, easy-to-install LED light kit available for all lift models. The LED lights are located higher on the lift, providing more direct and superior illumination, Hunter said. hunter.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53153 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53153
SPOTLIGHT
ESCO Esco provides the Compac line of high performance jacks featuring lifting capacities from 1.5 to 3 tons. According to the company, these quality jacks are applicable for lifting small, low profile automotive vehicles all the way up to larger cargo vans. Available models feature low profile lifting as low as 3.5 inches, and can lift as high as 31.5 inches. Compac jacks are built from the highest quality steel and are backed by a three-year warranty, the maker added. esco.net Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53154 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53154
BENDPAK BendPak said its new LR-5T is a 10,000-pound capacity low-rise lift that accommodates passenger cars and trucks thanks to a newly designed lift platform, specialty adapters, wider drive-over capability and increased lifting capacity. Convenient built-in storage trays mean lug nuts and other small parts are always within reach, while a small footprint, easy installation and adaptable 110V/220V power-unit make the LR-5T perfect for any shop, the company added. bendpak.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53155 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53155
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■ SOLUTIONS:
SPOTLIGHT
ROTARY LIFT Rotary Lift said its new MW-200 mobile wheel lift reduces the risk of employee injury and increases productivity. Back injuries account for one in five workplace injuries or illnesses, according to Rotary, which said that by providing technicians with a wheel lift, a shop owner may limit liability for worker’s compensations claims. The airoperated MW-200 provides 200 pounds of lifting capacity at 100 psi, enough to lift even the largest wheels and tires, the company added. It is easy to maneuver and has a rise time of just six seconds. The lift also includes an auxiliary air tool connection and features a single-lever control for quick operation. rotarylift.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53156 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53156
CHALLENGER LIFTS The DX77 double scissor lift by Challenger Lifts was engineered with efficiency and productivity in mind, according to the maker. It can easily lift all makes and models (within rated capacity) with its synchronized hydraulic system, the company said, adding that diamond plated flip-up and drivethrough approach ramps provide added value with the option to extend the platform length to accommodate longer wheelbase vehicles. The DX77 also offers versatility in installation; install the double scissor lift above ground with outriggers, or for a clean show room finish, flush mount it with the included flush mount frame, Challenger said. challengerlifts.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53157 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53157
BRANICK Branick said its rolling jacks fit the most popular four-post lifts, replacing OE jacks. Available in both 7,000- and 9,000-pound capacities, the company’s heavy-duty, air-hydraulic powered rolling jacks come with telescoping mounting brackets and the lift arms adjust from 33 to 50 inches. Branick added the narrow width allows easy access to the area of the vehicle being serviced, and the spring-loaded mounting bracket rollers allow the jack to be easily positioned and then automatically locked into place when weight is applied. The jacks also offer a mechanical three-position lock. Extension adaptors are available for an additional 7.5 inches, the maker added. Branick makes jack brackets for Rotary, JBC/FMC, Hunter, Acanus and Wheeltronics. branick.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53158 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53158
STERTIL-KONI Stertil-Koni recently introduced Freedom Lift, the company’s new two-post lift series. Featuring lifting capacities ranging from 16,000 to 30,000 pounds, Freedom Lift combines peak performance and safety through a symmetrical, open floor design, wheels-free access, telescopic assembly with swing arms, and a footprint that requires no mechanical structure overhead, according to the maker. The result is a state-of-the-art two-post lift that optimizes workspace in the shop and is engineered to lift a broad range of light- to medium-duty vehicles, StertilKoni said. stertil-koni.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53159 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53159
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SOLUTIONS
PRODUCTS
Hot New Products Tire Spreader BendPak/Ranger’s TS-150 Height Adjustable Tire Spreader quickly lifts tires to a convenient work height to make tire repairs more comfortable for technicians, according to the company. The heavy-duty rollers permit tires to rotate freely, while the adjustable spreader forks accommodate both narrow- or wide-tread widths. Control operations, including tire lift and spread, are air-powered and use simple ergonomic air valves for operation, the maker added. rangerproducts.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53160 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53160
European Disc Brake Pads Bosch introduced its new EuroLine disc brake pads, which the company said are designed to provide top performance for popular European vehicles on the road in North America. Bosch adds the line was developed as an OE replica line to match the look, feel and performance of the OE brake pads on European vehicles. bosch.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53161 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53161 Tire Conditioner Pneumacore said its new patent-pending tire conditioner, Sentry, features fluorescing properties to enhance the detection of rim cracks, bead leaks, punctures and other signs of air loss. The conditioner is ideal for mining and aggregate industries and was developed specifically for low visibility environments, such as underground mining and nighttime driving conditions, the company said, adding that Sentry works equally as well in daytime or above-ground environments. pneumacore.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53162 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53162 SmartWay-Approved Trailer Retread Oliver Rubber has launched the VantageTrailer II, designed for single axle and tandem axle assemblies. The EPA SmartWayverified trailer position precure retread for long-haul, over the road applications, features rounded shoulders to reduce turning and corner stress, as well as 13/32nd-inch tread depth with straight grooves for free-rolling positions and exceptional lateral traction, the maker said. oliverrubber.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53163 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53163 Complete Tire Service Catalog The new 350-page full-line catalog from Myers Tire Supply features more
Rapid Response: 800-928-1184 ext. 53058 58 August 2013 | TireReview
than 8,000 items. The catalog is arranged in 11 product groups, including valves and accessories, tire changing, tire balancing, shop equipment, tire repair and retreading. The company added it is designed with colorcoded sections and all products are organized in a standard presentation with charts and graphs. myerstiresupply.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53164 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53164 Two New UHP Tires Yokohama has added two new offerings to its Advan line of ultra high performance tires: the Advan sport V105 and Advan Neova AD08 R. The V105, available in 55 sizes, will be applicable for high-end luxury/performance vehicles. The AD08 R, available in 37 sizes, and will offer fitments for a variety of sport coupes. Both tires are designed with innovative, specialized compounds featuring the tiremaker’s orange oil technology for enhanced traction and road surface adhesion, according to Yokohama. yokohamatire.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53165 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53165 Fuel-Efficient Drive Radial Bridgestone’s new M760 Ecopia tire is a premium drive radial that is EPA SmartWay-verified and CARB-compliant. Features of the new addition to the Ecopia tire line include high traction and long mileage in a unique, fuel-efficient and retreadable design, according to the manufacturer. Additionally, the M760 Ecopia works well on single and tandem axle trucks, providing exceptional traction in severe weather conditions and making the tire ideal for a range of fleet applications. ■ bridgestone.com Rapid Response: www.TRRapidResponse.com/53166 Or call 800-928-1184 – Ext. 53166
59-61 Gray_Classified 8/13/13 10:11 AM Page 59
CLASSIFIEDS
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59-61 Gray_Classified 8/13/13 10:11 AM Page 60
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63-64 Purple_The Car Side 8/13/13 9:37 AM Page 63
■ COMMENTARY: Continued from page 64
tool dealers, Big Stan and Mad Max, were cheering loudly for a bunch of tire techs engrossed in a game of cornhole. The grand prize was a roll cab from Big Stan’s Tool Van filled with Mad Max tools. From what I could see, the guys from Humphrey’s Tire were in the lead. Suddenly a large hand slapped me on the back, knocking the wind right out of me. “Slim Shambles! Why, I’ve been looking all over for you. How are you, son?” I gasped for breath. “G-great, Louis. How’re things at the bank?” “Splendid, lad; just splendid.” He nipped the end off a large cigar and pulled out his monogrammed lighter. “This event you’ve organized is a smashing success. It reflects brilliantly on the way in which you conduct your own business affairs.” He blew out a great cloud of expensive smoke and smiled. “I always had faith in you, Shambles. And to prove
it, I’m going to double your line of credit, and lower the interest rate. Stop by and we’ll sign the papers!” As I struggled to take that in, cheers from the parking lot told me that the poker run had just finished. The drivers were some of our regular customers. Buck Pincher’s eyeballs nearly popped out when I handed him the winner’s check for $500. But then he sighed and gave it back. “Keep it, Slim. You’ve given me such great service over the years that I wanna give something back. Tell you what; throw the biggest Christmas party your guys have ever seen and tell ’em it’s on me.” The next thing I knew, Basil was standing over me. “Wake up, Slim, wake up. You must be dreaming.” “Yeah, I know,” I gasped. “Buck’s never that free with money!” Basil cleared his throat and shook me again. “No, I mean really dreaming. It’s time to wake up and let me use the creeper for a while.”
THE CAR SIDE
Embarrassed, I rolled out from under the truck I’d been inspecting and sat up. Basil was right; it had all been a dream. I looked up at him in disappointment. “Does that mean there’s no picnic this weekend?” Basil stared at me. “Uh, not that I know of.” “That’s too bad,” I said. “It seemed like a good idea…” Suddenly it hit me – it was a good idea. I headed for the office. With a little help from my automotive colleagues, we could turn an old tireman’s dream into a reality. ■ Rick Cogbill, a freelance writer and former shop owner in Summerland, B.C., has written The Car Side for a variety of trade magazines for the past 15 years. “A Fine Day for a Drive,” his first book based on the characters from this column, is now available for order at thecarside.com.
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COMMENTARY THE CAR SIDE
Sweet, Sweet Dreams H
ey Slim, how ’bout another smokie?” I brushed some
crumbs off my shirt. “Easy there, Herk. I’m still chewing on my last one.” The venerable owner of Herkle’s Auto Parts raised the lid on the barbeque, releasing an aromatic cloud of smoke. “You know me; service is my middle name.” He reached for the BBQ sauce. “And don’t run off. I just sent Samantha to find you another cool one.” Dave, the counterman from Nichols Tire, staggered up with a heavy cooler. “Here’s the steaks, Herk,” he gasped. “Want me to flip for a while?” “Naw, I got ’er. Say, how ’bout a game of cards and a beer while they cook?” Nearby, Tooner was having a discussion with young Jimmy C, the top technician at the local GM dealership. “Jimmy, I got some questions ’bout them Duramax diesels. Ya got any pointers for an old coot like me?” “Sure thing,” replied Jimmy cheerfully. “Why don’t you come by Monday after work and I’ll show you some tricks. Say, is it true you know how to work on carburetors?” Tooner took a long pull on his drink and belched contentedly. “You might say me and Quadrajets got a little history.” “That’s awesome! I got this old 1970 GTO at home that just won’t idle…” Right then Sam caught up with me and my empty glass. “A diet Mountain Dew with a hint of fresh-squeez64 August 2013 | TireReview
Can a tire dealer’s dream of cooperation with the competition become a reality? RICK COGBILL aka Slim Shambles Contributing Writer
ed lime!” She held up a frosty mug. “Did I get it right?” “Perfect,” I said, swapping mugs. “Say, did I hear you and Beanie are going steady now?” Sam blushed furiously. “Well, he did give me this.” She showed me a shiny bracelet made of chrome piston rings. “I just love a man in coveralls!” As she hurried away, I took a look around at the crowd gathered in the
park and sighed contentedly. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the perfect setting for the Slim Shambles’ First Annual Repairman’s Picnic. Anyone in the Hollownoggin Valley who had anything to do with vehicles was there, including car dealer techs and independent shops. Under a big oak tree, techs were swapping stories. Basil was sitting next to Spoke Lee, owner of The Alignment Shop. “Hey, Basil,” said
Spoke. “One of your customers came by for an alignment the other day.” “Glad to hear it,” said Basil, swirling his glass of red wine. “I told her you were the best alignment person around.” “Thanks,” said Spoke. “I noticed she had an oil leak after getting her car serviced at your shop. I just replaced it no charge. I told her it could happen to anyone.” Basil raised his glass in salute. “Much obliged, buddy. Just send us a bill for your time.” Spoke waved him off. “Forget it. I know you’d do the same for me.” Dutchy, the tow service operator, was holding court at a nearby picnic table. His audience included Dickie Dickson, owner of the local used car lot. “Ja,” growled Dutchy, chewing on his ever-present cigarillo. “I’ll tell you what, Dickie; if one of your used cars breaks down within the first six months, just call me. It’ll only cost you 10 bucks, no matter how far out of town it is.” Dickie slammed a beefy hand down on the table. “Dutchy, you’re a gentleman and a scholar. Make it $15 and it’s a deal.” I smiled and sipped my Mountain Dew. This was life as it should be – automotive service providers cooperating and working together instead of competing against each other. It was almost more than I could hope for. Over on the grass, our two local Continued on page 63
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