Tire Review articles from October 1991

Tire Review archives from October 1991

Tire companies hike prices.
October 1, 1991... All of the major tire manufacturers recently announced substantial price increases on their tire brands, but the biggest part of the story is yet unanswered -- will the increases hold or will heavy discounting continue? ...

A rational decision: at last, tire manufacturers are trying to deal with their problems. (price increases)(Market Analysis) (Column)
October 1, 1991... The tire industry has suffered from three major problems during the last decade: chronic excess production capacity, sluggish domestic car sales and low product prices. In an attempt to deal with the capacity problem, the companies have...

Plan for significant savings. (tire dealers' insurance policy)(Business Ideas)
October 1, 1991... The last thing a tire dealer wants to think about is his insurance policy, yet a little planning can yield a big benefit to his bottom line. Tailoring the insurance coverage to his exact needs, then working to prevent losses such as...

Going after the big one. (commercial truck tire service accounts)(includes related article) (Cover Story)
October 1, 1991... Going after a commercial truck tire account isn't as simple as opening a store and advertising in the Yellow Pages. According to dealers who service commercial accounts, you have to go out to the fleets themselves and solicity the business....

Looking for profits. (automotive service work)
October 1, 1991... Here's a simple equation: An increase in automotive service work means an increase in a dealership's sales and profits. Easy enough, as long as you can conquer that first part -- increasing the number of service jobs. But you probably...

Defining today's tune-up. (automobile engine tune-up )
October 1, 1991... What exatly is a tune-up today? A new set of spark plugs, a timing and idle speed check, and a new air filter? Ask a dozen people and you'll probably get a dozen different opinions. Webster's Dictionary defines it as "an adjustment to...

Updating the ABS file. (automobile manufacturers' introduction of anti-lock brake system)(Tech Update) (Column)
October 1, 1991... Chevy, Ford and GM are all introducing either new anti-lock braking systems or traction control systems as standard equipment on some of their 1992 models. For example, Corvette gets a traction control systems for the first time in 1992....

The economics of tire burning. (extraction of energy from scrap tires)
October 1, 1991... The need to dispose of scrap tires in a safe manner is a continuing problem. One company, Oxford Energy, is attempting to meet that challenge. But like all business ventures, Oxford has to turn a profit to remain viable. It has been...

Promoting the tune-up. (Fall & Winter Auto Service Supplement)
October 1, 1991... October is National Car Care Month, an annual public relations and marketing event that's been going on for over a decade now. Sponsored by the Car Care Council, Car Care Month is supposed to be a time during which the aftermarket parts amd...

Get in the winterizing game. (recycling antifreeze coolant)(Fall & Winter Auto Service Supplement)
October 1, 1991... As the cold weather approaches in many areas of the country, the annual ritual of winterizing the cooling system is taking a new direction. Instead of simply draining out the old coolant, flushing the system and pouring fresh antifreeze and...

Big bucks in brakes. (auto brake service)(Fall & Winter Auto Service Supplement)
October 1, 1991... Most dealers do a good job of what we'll call "after the fact" selling when it comes to brake work. In other words, the necessary repairs are typically sold to customers after they've experienced some kind of brake problem and brought in...

Recharge your battery sales. (Fall & Winter Auto Service Supplement)
October 1, 1991... Battery problems are, of course, one of the leading causes of winter no-starts, and often simply because of neglect. You prevent such woes by making sure your customers' batteries and charging systems are up to the task by checking the...

Alignment as a profit center. (Fall & Winter Auto Service Supplement)
October 1, 1991... Whether you have the most luck selling front-wheel alignments, thrus-angle alignments or full fourwheel alignments, the bottom line is whether or not wheel alignment is a profit center for your shop. At least one out of every three alignment...