Modern Tire Dealer articles from October 1996

Modern Tire Dealer archives from October 1996

Proposed NTDRA changes deserve everyone's support. (National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Assn.)(Editorial)
October 1, 1996... LEADERS WANT TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION BY ORDINARY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. Hopefully the long-overdue changes being implemented by the National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (NTDRA) will be the salvation of the trade group that has...

Light truck tire proliferation.(Cover Story)
October 1, 1996... Vehicle popularity has its price The line between light truck tires and passenger tires continues to blur. "Light truck tires" used to refer only to larger, aggressive-looking tires in bias sizes. Selling to light truck owners was a niche...

The ups and downs of light truck suspension.
October 1, 1996... Light trucks, pickups, mini-vans and sport utility vehicles continue to dominate the market. They account for about 43% of new vehicle sales and they appeal to all segments of the market - couples and singles, young and old, male and female....

Wheel repair and refinishing: the art and economics of wheel restoration.
October 1, 1996... Routine wheel damage varies from light scratching, scuffing and finish deterioration to gouging, bending, chunking, cracking and outright destruction. Severe structural damage, of course, sends the wheel to the scrap pile or recycling bin....

Gearing up for winter service; covering the bases before the snow does. (how tire dealers prepare for their winter customers)
October 1, 1996... More often than not, drivers put off winterizing their vehicle until the first snow and cold starts causing them problems. But as a tire dealer you can't afford to wait that long. Those who prepare for the last-minute onslought of customers...

NTDRA moves into a new era: changes aimed at reviving convention, programs. (National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Assn.)
October 1, 1996... The winds of change blew briskly through Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center during the recent National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (NTDRA) convention and trade show. The association's 76th annual gathering, smallest in many...

Speed kills truck tire effectiveness.
October 1, 1996... New limits cause more 'rubber on the road' Imagine this scenario: You are witnessing an 18-wheeler truck and trailer barreling down the highway at 75 to 80 miles per hour. The posted speed for trucks is 75 miles per hour. Being a...

Not ready for prime time; truck tire chips are on hold - but OTR chips.... (Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.'s active in-tire computer chips)
October 1, 1996... Marketing the smart truck tire chip may not be smart marketing, at least at this time. Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. (BFS) put mass production of its active in-tire computer chip on hold after running into processing problems. Dave Laubie,...

General truck tires: the next generation.
October 1, 1996... Commercial Division accelerates turnaround Continental General Tire Inc.'s new line of truck tires culminates in what Executive Vice President Tom Reese terms "a great comeback." In 1992, Continental General's Truck Tire Division, centered...

New computer, treads - and attitude.
October 1, 1996... Bandag Inc. unveiled a comprehensive computerized tire management system and two new tread designs at a recent press conference in Muscatine, Iowa, its headquarters city. But the underlying reason for the gathering was to emphasize the...

Taking distribution to the next level: J.H. Heafner Co. announces warehouse program. (J.H. Heafner Company Inc.)
October 1, 1996... Heafner Tires & Products has upped the stakes in the wholesale battle to supply independent tire dealers. The Lincolnton, N.C.-based distribution group, that services between 10,000 and 15,000 accounts monthly from 31 warehouses, recently...