Modern Tire Dealer articles from March 1997

Modern Tire Dealer archives from March 1997

Goodyear-Sumitomo manufacturing agreement first of many? (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.; Sumitomo Corp.)
March 1, 1997... Goodyear's agreement to manufacture tires here in the U.S. for Sumitomo while Sumitomo makes tires for Goodyear in Japan may be only a "first date," so to speak. The same could be said for the Michelin-Continental joint manufacturing agreement...

The nuts and bolts of ABS service: an ounce of training is worth a pound of trial and error. (anti-lock brake system)
March 1, 1997... It's no secret that the biggest problem with ABS brakes is the nut behind the wheel. Owners who have not been schooled in their use and operation and have not taken the time to read the owner's manual surely can be a problem when it comes to...

Making a commitment to A/C service: learning to deal with R134a, retrofitting and rogue refrigerants. (air conditioning systems)
March 1, 1997... With the price of harder and harder to find R-12 going through the roof, what are dealers to do about servicing their customer's air conditioning systems? Well, you have a couple of choices. You can simply get out of the A/C business....

King of the Northwest. (Les Schwab, owner of Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc.)(Cover Story)
March 1, 1997... Les Schwab started with nothing - now he's You stand at a viewpoint overlooking the small Oregon town of Prineville. Spread out in the valley below is a typical western scene - winter-brown rangeland reaching to snow-capped mountains on the...

Early days weren't easy. (early struggles of Les and Dorothy Schwab)(excerpts from Les Schwab Recap)
March 1, 1997... The loyalty and support of Les Schwab's wife, Dorothy, have played a major role in his success. These high school sweethearts have now been married more than 60 years. But their life hasn't always been easy. In 1995, Dorothy was talked...

Selling tire/wheel packages: profit potential well worth the effort. (the automotive aftermarket)
March 1, 1997... Just out of college and into his first full-time job, the young engineer had just plunked down $2,000 toward the purchase of a red '97 Miata. Within minutes after pulling it proudly and gingerly into his parents' garage for the flint time, he...

A thorough examination: checking out the warehouse clubs. (tire dealer finds tough competitor in clubs that sell tires)(Interview)
March 1, 1997... Only a few independent tire dealers complained when the first Price Club opened in San Diego, Calif., in 1976. Since then, however, the warehouse club concept of retailing has ballooned to more than 700 tire-selling outlets in the United...

Avon purchase a global boost for Cooper: agreement enhances European presence. (Avon Rubber PLC; Cooper Tire and Rubber Co.)(Focus On: Industry)
March 1, 1997... Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is taking a large step forward in the global tire market with acquisition of tire operations of Great Britain's Avon Rubber p.l.c. for about $110.4 million. The agreement will enhance Cooper's presence in Europe both...

Coats Inflation Guard improves safety. (Hennessy Industries Inc.'s new product)(Focus On: Industry)
March 1, 1997... Hennessy Industries highlighted two new Coats products that make tire inflation safer and tire changing easier and more flexible during press receptions at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville and company headquarters in LaVergne, Tenn. In the...

Goodyear's changing with the times; but company tells dealers they're still #1. (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.)(includes related article on Sumitomo Rubber Industries' deal with Goodyear)(Focus On: Dealers)
March 1, 1997... It's a changing new, forward-thinking, more flexible and user-friendly Goodyear that retains the company's traditional down-home values such as strong dealer service, a continuing parade of quality products and its number one position as the...

Car dealer tire sales concern Canadians. (new car dealers engage in sales and servicing of replacement tires)(Focus On: Dealers)
March 1, 1997... Tech certification's on Ontario agenda Canadian tire dealers have all the problems of their American counterparts, plus others of their own. The growing involvement of new car dealers in replacement tire sales and adjustments is a matter...

Northwest dealers honor past, look ahead. (Northwest Tire Dealers Association honor former executive director Keith Rowbotham)(Focus On: Dealers)
March 1, 1997... Keynoter Fiedler surveys tire industry The nearly 300 who attended the Northwest Tire Dealers Association (NWTDA) Regional Meeting and Trade Show recently in Portland, Ore., paused to pay their respects to Keith Rowbotham, former NWTDA...

The future is now; Dayton Tire announces new beginnings. (marketing department to merge with Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.'s marketing department)(Focus On: Dealers)
March 1, 1997... The millennium has already arrived for the Dayton Tire Co. At its recent dealer meeting in Spartanburg, S.C., Dayton Tire executives introduced a number of changes designed to take the company into the year 2000 and beyond. The company and...