What’s Treading with Tire Review

Latest Episodes:

How Bridgestone Technology Shines in the Company's Latest UHP A/S Tire Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

In September, Bridgestone Americas released its new Potenza Sport all-season UHP tire. As with many UHP tire offerings, the company says the tire is targeted toward consumers who are enthusiastic about driving their sporty performance vehicles, but the tire has also been designed with a focus on regions that experience light snowfall. One attribute that especially caught our interest was the fact that this is the company’s first UHP all-season tire to feature Bridgestone's "Enliten" technology, which the company says is engineered to help optimize all-season performance and provide longer wear life.
"Bridgestone's position is that if the tire wears longer, we get more wear life that is more sustainable, and that's better for the consumer," says Dale Harrigle, chief engineer of replacement tires and Bridgestone Americas. "We like tires, but most consumers don't want to go to the tire store and buy tires. If they have to buy fewer tires, they have to use fewer tires, and that's more sustainable for the planet."
On this episode of What's Treading with Tire Review, we drill Harrigle on the science that's been built into the Potenza Sport all-season UHP tire. Harrigle helps us understand how the tire technology found in the new tire works, the company's targetted vehicle models, and when tire dealers can expect new sizes to be released.
Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
AAPEX: www.aapexshow.com

Why Tire Dealers Need to Fortify Their Data – and How to Do It Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

When you think of your shop's most valuable assets, what comes to mind? Perhaps it's expensive shop equipment or the price that comes with employing skilled technicians. These are great answers, but the experts from Torqata, a data analytics software company that works mainly with tire manufacturers, distributors and retailers, suggest the answer may be a bit less tangible.
"Tire dealers handle a wide range of sensitive data. Customers provide addresses, emails, phone numbers, and even identification details for their vehicles. Protecting this customer data is paramount," says Tim Eisenmann, CEO of Torqata.
A tire dealer's sensitive data – including customer information and internal operational data – might be their most valuable assets, yet often times it can be some of their least protected resources.
"Modern times have seen a shift towards web-based shop management systems. This exposes businesses to a range of cyber threats, including phishing and ransomware," adds AJ Pryor, Chief Technical Officer at Torqata. "Human error remains a significant vulnerability."
On this episode of What's Treading with Tire Review, Eisenmann and Pryor join us to explain just how sensitive and vulnerable tire dealer data can be, some of the most common cyber attacks on tire dealers, the steps that can be taken to improve data security, and even a few of the industry standards and certifications that tire dealers should be aware of.
Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
AAPEX: www.aapexshow.com

We Surprise Tire Review's 2023 Top Shop: Black’s Tire & Auto Service Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

If you support your community, it’s going to come back around to your business. It's a simple mantra, but sticking to it has worked wonders for Black's Tire & Auto Service.
Today, the business stands 55 Black’s Tire & Auto Service tire and vehicle repair centers in operation across North and South Carolina, and Black's continues to grow. There are also 10 distribution warehouses – seven full-service wholesale distribution centers and three satellite wholesale distribution operations – and a tire retread manufacturing center located in Clarkton NC.
“We try to participate in every community we serve across North Carolina, South Carolina and Southern Virginia,” says Rick Benton Jr., Black’s Tire vice president of sales/marketing, managing director ownership group. “Black’s Tire & Auto Service as a company has long held an appreciation for the importance one can have in the development, success and quality of life of others, particularly those in need.”
We thought the Black's team deserved a bit of admiration for its focus on people. Watch the video above to see us surprise the Black’s Tire & Auto Service team with news that they have been named Tire Review’s 2023 Top Shop Winner.
Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
AAPEX: www.aapexshow.com
Coats: www.coatscompany.com

What a Steady Market Means for OTR Tire Dealers Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

Reading the tea leaves is never simple for an OTR tire dealer. With the market so closely tied to typically cyclical industries like construction, mining, agriculture and forestry, many OTR tire dealers will tell you they've experienced their fair share of both feast and famine.
So far this year, though, the OTR tire market has been relatively steady, according to Triangle Tire's OTR Director Stephen Reynolds.
"If there's one thing that I've found to be true in the OTR world, it's that it's a variable rollercoaster. It's always either going up or down. So if you can maintain a flat line, that's something of a moral victory in my opinion," Reynolds says.
In this episode of What's Treading with Tire Review, Reynolds gives us the details on the current state of demand, as well as where he sees the market heading as we approach 2024. Plus, we learn about how freight rates and Triangle Tire's recent warehousing expansion are affecting tire dealers.
Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
AAPEX: www.aapexshow.com

How Diversification Opens Doors for Wegmann Automotive Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

Over the last few years, Wegmann Automotive has found diversification to be a huge boon for business, whether that comes from various wheel weights options or the acquisition of Alligator TPMS in 2019.
"I think everybody's always looking for ways to grow their organizations. We have a very large amount of business in the wheel weight space," says Greg Parker, the national account sales and marketing director for Wegmann Automotive. "In order for us to continue to grow, we need to get outside of that and grow into new product areas. We're excited about this. I mean, obviously, valves are a critical component of wheels and tires. The more that we can put in that box or put on that pallet to ship to our customers, the better it is for them and the better it is for us."
In this episode of What's Treading with Tire Review, Parker discusses the shift from lead wheel balance weights to non-lead alternatives, such as steel and zinc, due to environmental regulations, as well as how Wegmann Automotive is adapting to these changes and investing in non-lead products like plasteel. Parker also delves into how the addition of Alligator's TPMS business has enhanced Wegmann Automotive's business in North America, enabling the company to diversify its product offerings.
Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
AAPEX: www.aapexshow.com

From Manual to Robots: RoboTire's Impact on the Tire Shop Floor Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

There are four particular American tire shops where the shop floor looks quite a bit different than what you might be used to. Two enormous robotic arms are lifting 80-pound tires with ease, waltzing to an orchestra or shop sounds as they change a set of four customer tires in 20 minutes. According to executives at RoboTire, who've designed and installed these robots, these robots are just at the tip of the iceberg of their capability.
"We're ramping manufacturing, but then we also have continued to make new improvements. So compared to last year, the robots are probably about two times faster [now] than what they were," says Victor Darolfi, CEO and founder of RoboTire. "We've done layout improvements to basically minimize space constraints to going into shops. And then there is a whole new slew of services that RoboTire will be pushing out over the next couple of months from that side of the world to, again, add a better value prop to our end user."
On this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, we speak with Darolfi and Ben Wilson, senior manager of Operations for RoboTire, about recent dealer feedback, how the technology was designed to help control the technician shortage and what's next for RoboTire.
Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
AAPEX: www.aapexshow.com

Kumho Tire Discusses the Solus TA51a, Tire Line Consolidation Strategy Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

Kumho Tire recently launched the Solus TA51a tire, a grand touring all-season tire that consolidates two products into one. Kumho has also been simplifying other product lines as well; According to Shawn Denlein, president of sales and marketing at Kumho Tire USA, it’s a strategy that will become a huge boon to tire dealers.
“In 2018 we started this strategy of trying to consolidate all the lines, and there's a lot of benefits to this,” Denlein says. “One, you have an extreme benefit from the manufacturing side, because you're able to concentrate obviously just on one tread. From a developmental side, it's also important because it allows the engineers just to focus on one tread. From the dealer side, you're carrying less inventory and it's not as complicated. Back in 2018 we had 13 treads and now we have nine."
On this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, we grill Denlein on details about Kumho’s new TA51a grand touring all-season tire, tire segments the company has its eye on, and how expanded warehousing is expected to help tire dealers in North America.
Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
AAPEX: https://www.aapexshow.com/

This is How a Continental Marketing Executive Maximizes Tire Sales Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

When your Average Joe or Jane hears the word Continental, what do think first comes to mind? A hotel breakfast? An airline? Plate tectonics? In large part thanks to Brian Beierwaltes, senior manager of marketing at Continental, many consumers out there first turn to the tires manufactured by a global tire brand.
Every tire manufacturer has its own unique marketing strategy. So, how does a Continental marketing executive keep tires top of mind?
"From the tire side, I really think we leverage our performance side of things and the value that we bring to our consumers, creating great products that ultimately showcase themselves and how they help people on a daily basis when they're driving," Beierwaltes says.
On this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, we pick Beirwaltes's brain about creating a successful marketing campaign for an industry giant; what consumers care most about with their tire purchases today; and what tools Continental gives tire dealers to help them close the next sale.
Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
AAPEX: www.aapexshow.com

Making Race Tires for Formula Drift with Giti Tire USA's Dave Poling Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

A cloud of smoke arises from the GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires as Formula Drift Driver Odi Bakchis brakes to a halt. The tires are hot and worn after a few laps drifting, but they’ve kept Odi on the track for the full afternoon. So, what does in to the technological marvel that is race tires?
To answer this, David Poling, Giti Tire USA’s director of tire development and product marketing, sits down with us on this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX. Dave not only explains the technology that goes into race tires, but also how GT Radial’s tires for Formula Drift are built for the conditions and how this racing circuit serves as a proving ground for the company’s technology at a dealer’s counter.

How motorsports is the ultimate proving ground for tire technology (1:02)
The history behind GT Radial’s Formula Drift partnership (2:15)
What GT Radial need to consider in making a tire for Formula Drift (5:55)
How GT Radial’s Formula Drift partnership influences its brand awareness and can be a selling point for dealers at the counter (9:00)
Ways race tire technology can influence the compounding and construction of other performance tires (12:22)
Major advances in race tire technology in the market today (17:22)

Subscribe to the audio podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts and find the video version on YouTube.

Tire Changer Technology to Help Improve Productivity with Coats Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

A myraid of tire changers exist on the market today, so how do you know which one is right for your shop? Saying a new tire changer is a huge investment is an understatement, yet in order to service the wheel assemblies you’re seeing in your bays today, as well as those coming down the line, identifying the technology your techs need to perform proper and efficient tire service each time is a must.
In this episode of What’s Treading with Tire Review, presented by AAPEX, we’re joined by Rick Kennedy, product manager for tire changers at The Coats Company, who shares what new technology is essential for investing in a tire changer today and how Coats is looking to make the tire technician’s job easier.
EPISODE OVERVIEW

Tire changer technology to look out for to service both today’s wheel assemblies and those in the future (0:52);
How Coats designed its new Maxx series of tire changers to address technicians’ biggest pain points (4:44);
Rick compares the Maxx series to previous Coats tire changer models to emphasize the convenience features they added through field research (9:54);
The testing process for the Maxx Series (12:08);
Examples of tire changer technology that allow technicians to perform their jobs safer and change tires faster (15:10).

Subscribe to the audio podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts and find the video version on YouTube.