Modern Tire Dealer articles from April 1996

Modern Tire Dealer archives from April 1996

Why can't 'Flat Worlders' accept asphalt rubber? (use of rubber crumbs to improve asphalt pavement)(Editorial)
April 1, 1996... There were a number of people who insisted the world was flat even after Chris Columbus and other explorers returned from their adventures without sailing off the end of the earth. Their counterparts exist today even after all these...

No need to dread brake line repair.
April 1, 1996... With skill, patience, shop can clean up on dirty job It's a nasty, dirty, time-consuming job, but somebody's got to do it! That's what some people say about hydraulic brake line repair. That's not necessarily true on an automobile assembly...

Rack and pinion basics: check carefully for better service, profits. (includes tips on inspection of rack and pinion steering systems)
April 1, 1996... A rack and pinion steering system consists of a toothed rack that engages with a geared pinion shaft. The pinion is driven by the steering shaft, which in turn runs across the face of the toothed rack. When the steering wheel is turned, the...

Right on schedule: retread production takes planning.(Cover Story)
April 1, 1996... The efficiency of a retreading shop depends on the way its layout, equipment and employees each contribute to the smooth operation of the plant. And there's another important element. "Staging production is a major factor in determining plant...

Executive outlook: retreading leaders are optimistic - sort of. (includes related article on raw material costs)(Cover Story)
April 1, 1996... The retreading industry's top executives are guardedly optimistic in their outlook. An exclusive MTD survey revealed that most see a slight growth in truck tire retreading in 1996 compared to 1995, and a leveling off of light truck tire retread...

Who says we're dying? Some passenger retreaders are thriving.(Cover Story)
April 1, 1996... You can look it up. Not since a million-unit increase to 35 million in 1976 has MTD's annual Facts Issue shown an upswing in passenger tire retreading. And industry analyst Saul Ludwig of McDonald & Co. Securities Inc. projected a continuing...

Number five and climbing: retreader acquisitions boost Cobre Tire. (tire retreader Fletcher's Cobre Tire and Service ranks fifth in Modern Tire Dealer magazine's top retreaders list)(Cover Story)
April 1, 1996... A series of acquisitions have boosted Fletcher's Cobre Tire, based in Phoenix, Ariz., into the fifth spot in MTD's top retreaders list (see page 43). A year ago, the company had three Oliver truck tire retread plants and was not among the...

Consumers will pay extra for quality and safety. (passenger tires)
April 1, 1996... In general, dealers report that the passenger tire business is pretty good so far in 1996. If you're not getting your share, take a hard look at the way you are running your business and see why your competition may be eating your lunch. Recent...

Bobzin calls for more support of dealers at Virginia-North Carolina meeting. (National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association Pres. Paul Bobzin)
April 1, 1996... More than 250 attended the last joint convention and trade show of Virginia and North Carolina tire dealers - at least for the time being. The meeting was held recently in Charlottesville, Va., and included a wide variety of seminars and...

The maturing of scrap tire recycling: latest recycling symposium takes different course. (Rubber Recycling Symposium and Exhibition)(includes related article on scrap tire recycling)
April 1, 1996... As the scrap tire recycling industry has matured, the nature of meetings called to discuss the subject has changed considerably. No longer do talks center on concern over disposing of scrap tires at any cost. Presentations now concentrate...

Action-packed weekend for ATD: ACCC affiliate dealer meeting's upbeat. (American Tire Distributors meeting; American Car Care Center tire dealers)
April 1, 1996... More than 100 American Car Care Center (ACCC) tire dealers serviced by American Tire Distributors (ATD) crammed a lot of information, action and fun into a recent weekend meeting in Tyson's Corner, a Washington, D.C., suburb. Most brought...

How credit cards can boost your sales. (tire sales)
April 1, 1996... Paulette Lewis of Paul Lewis Tire Centers had some practical words of advice for American Tire Distributor (ATD) dealers on how they can boost their business through getting customers to sign up for credit cards. Though aimed at American Car...

How to measure a wheel: critical dimensions that you should understand.(1996 Performance Handbook)
April 1, 1996... There are five dimensions of importance when measuring a wheel: rim diameter, rim width, offset, backspacing and bolt circle. If you're buying new wheels, the dimensions will all be provided by the wheel maker. However, it's handy to know how...

Plus sizing. (changing wheel diameter)(1996 Performance Handbook)
April 1, 1996... Altering wheel diameter can be a very cool thing to do If you're interested in performance handling, you want to reduce the amount of deflection between the wheel and the ground, and you want to plant the biggest footprint possible onto the...

Wheel installation.(1996 Performance Handbook)
April 1, 1996... Securing the wheel to the vehicle should be viewed as a precision job, not to be taken lightly The customer has anguished for months over his decision. He's studied dozens of magazines, poured over scores of manufacturer brochures and has...

Mounting/balancing custom wheels: care and cleanliness are vital.(1996 Performance Handbook)
April 1, 1996... Expensive custom wheels that feature delicate surface finishes and finely sculpted lines deserve close attention and gentle handling. The customers may be picky and demanding, but when you consider the long green that's plunked down for a set...

Tread designs: a performance primer. (tire tread)(1996 Performance Handbook)
April 1, 1996... The creation of a tread design involves number of criteria. Aesthetically, the tread must be pleasing to the eye. The tread noise factor must be as low as possible. It must be able to provide adhesion on dry road and to shed water in wet...

Anti-sway bars.(1996 Performance Handbook)
April 1, 1996... Reducing wasted movement = increased stability and superior handling When a vehicle rides down the road in a straight direction, on a straight and level road, the suspension feels relatively "stable" to most people, providing the shocks and...

Ride control: performance suspension management.(1996 Performance Handbook)
April 1, 1996... The term "ride control," in its most complete sense, includes the vehicle's entire suspension system, including springs, shock absorbers, bushings, wheel alignment, sway control systems and tires. Each product area is responsible in part for...