63 minute read
Experts answer this question
from Modern Tire Dealer - March 2019
by EndeavorBusinessMedia-VehicleRepairGroup
Preventive Maintenance Experts answer this question:
When it comes to suspension performance, preventive maintenance can be a hard sell — even as the vehicle sinks closer to the road surface.
So we asked two former Modern Tire Dealer Tire Dealers of the Year, Alpio Barbara and Barry Steinberg, and a number of suspension parts companies one question: When should suspension parts be replaced?
“We often ask our clients if the car ever makes any unusual noises going over bumps or around turns just to get them talking about the ride aspects of their vehicle,” said Barbara, owner and president of Redwood General Tire Service Co. in Redwood City, Calif. “Suspension noises are often described with words such as tapping, rattle, or squeak over bumps, or just something that wasn’t there before.
“Luckily, a trained mechanic can identify the cause of most issues with some simple inspections. Different failures make different noises, so after road testing a vehicle and duplicating the noise the customer has described, a technician can begin to inspect the area the noise is coming from and begin to inspect those components for wear.”
Barbara said suspension component wear is usually diagnosed by testing for excessive movement or play.
“The fact of the matter is suspension parts all wear at different rates and in different ways depending on driving conditions, driving habits, as well as other factors. So rather than set a specific value for time and mileage for these parts to fail, it is our job in the automotive industry to help educate customers on what the suspension of their vehicle will do for their daily driving habits, as well as how wear and failure of these components can lead to serious safety concerns.”
Steinberg, owner of Direct Tire & Auto Service, a six-store chain based in Watertown, Mass., said if the part is showing enough wear or play that it will adversely affect alignment angles, he will recommend replacement.
“With the advancement of crash avoidance systems in the modern automobile, suspension systems must be evaluated and diagnosed by an informed and highly trained technician to understand the many dynamics of these systems. It is certainly not like the old days when we use to say 50,000 miles on shocks is the time to replace. Wear and tear is the focus, not mileage.”
Under both normal and adverse conditions, just about any suspension part can be damaged and wear out, but most should last 50,000 to 80,000 miles before repairs are required, says Doug Taylor, product marketing manager for Arnott Inc. “Air suspension, while offering load leveling and a more comfortable ride, also offers its own challenges,” he says. “While air suspension components can last eight to 10 years, like other rubber components such as hoses, wipers and tires, the rubber air bladder will begin to dry rot and develop tiny holes around the area where the rubber air spring folds upon itself.
“At first, the air suspension compressor will continue to pump up the springs, but in time the holes will become too numerous or too large, and the compressor will burn out and stop working from overuse.”
Air suspension components typically fail between 80,000 to 120,000 miles, said Aalok Joshi, director of product management for Cardone Industries. “This range can be greatly affected by the complexity and configurability of the system, aka driving modes, driver behavior and road conditions.”
Inspect wheel hub assemblies, U-joints and center support bearings on a regular basis, says an SKF USA Inc. spokesperson. Although these components do not have a specific replacement schedule, they can start to develop symptoms such as noise or vibration issues that may indicate it’s time to replace them.
It’s also important to ask customers if they are experiencing any issues.
A visual inspection of U-joints and center support bearings can determine if there is grease leakage or worn rubber supports. By grabbing the driveshaft and moving it, you can see if there is any excessive play. Wheel hubs also can be inspected for excessive movement.
“Typically, a hub will not have more than 5 thousandths end play,” he added.
In all cases, technicians should also refer to OEM specs for allowable limits.
COURTESY OF CLARK GOODPASTER/DIRECT TIRE
Godfrey Williams, left (with Barry Steinberg), looks for the cause of a banging noise the driver complained about. He determined a lower control bushing was the culprit, and sent the client a video of the complete multi-point inspection.
5 signs an air suspension system needs repair
1. Customer complains that at least one corner of his vehicle is dropping over time. 2. The dashboard suspension warning light comes on. 3. The air suspension compressor stops working. 4. Upon a visual inspection, the technician sees leaking oil around the shock’s body or holes on the air spring. 5. Customer hears knocking noises when going over bumps.
SOURCE: DOUG TAYLOR, PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGER, ARNOTT INC.
COURTESY OF ARNOTT INC.
Eventually the rubber on air suspension components like these GM SUV air shocks will wear out providing repair opportunities for garages.
Past, Present, Future: Gender Diversity Female tire dealers
By Bob Ulrich
Perhaps the most famous female tire dealer of all time is Chanice Kobolowski. She was owner of Kobolowski Tires in Chicago. Doesn’t ring a bell? Here’s a hint: The dealership’s tagline was “For the best in tires, see
Chanice Kobolowski.”
Any fan of the film “Uncle Buck” would recognize the name Chanice Kobolowski.
Played by Amy Madigan, she was the girlfriend of the title character, played by John Candy.
And despite her popularity, that about sums up the number of fictional female tire dealers on the silver screen. In the real world, however, women have been successfully running independent tire dealerships for at least 100 years. Modern Tire Dealer knows that because it has been interviewing them since August 1919.
GENDER ANALYSIS OF THE TIRE BUYING PROCESS
According to BrightLine Marketing research, men decide which brand to purchase and retailer to frequent more often than women when buying tires.
2018
2017
2016
2015
40.4%
40.5%
40.5%
39.7% 59.6%
59.5%
59.5%
60.3%
2014
39.6% 60.4%
2013
38.7% 61.3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Men Women
Juanita Purcell shared the MTD Tire Dealer of the Year Award in 2004.
In our first issue, under our original name Tires & Accessories, we ran a story on Mrs. N.E. Love, who managed a store in St. Louis (see the reprinted article on pages 46 and 48). In our second issue, we talked with Mrs. Josephine Roberts, manager of a United Tire Stores outlet in Indianapolis.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone in our industry that the average tire dealer is a Caucasian male in his 50’s. But there has always been room for women interested in running or owning a tire dealership. Both Love and Roberts said so.
Love said a career in the tire business is all right for women “who are adapted to it,” and there is nothing disagreeable about it.
She found it pleasant competing with men, and said she always received every courtesy from her male competitors. Most of her customers were men, she added.
Roberts echoed those views. “If a woman makes a serious study of her business, she can compete with the men in handling tires.
“Personally, I like the tire business because I would rather sell to men than to women and most of the tire buyers are men.”
Diane Hennelly shared the MTD Tire Dealer of the Year Award in 2013.
WOMEN TIRE BUYERS “Less than 50% of an independent tire dealership’s customers are women.” 2006 MTD Women & Tires Dealer Study
“Women buy… 65% of new tires.” Par Excellence magazine, Dec. 2009
“Women buy 60% of all passenger tires.” Bonnie Marlow, assistant program manager, K&M Tire Inc., K&M Tire Dealer Trade Show, 2013
There is some discrepancy as to the number of women tire buyers, or the influence women have on the tire buying process. Randy Ladd, owner of BrightLine Marketing LLC, has been tracking tire purchasing since 2009.
“The BrightLine Tire Survey has included interviews with 15,000 tire decision makers each year since 2009,” he says. “The ‘decision maker’ label is very important because the BrightLine Tire Survey asks respondents questions about why they selected a specific tire brand or tire retailer. Only the decision maker can answer these questions.
100 years of female tire dealers in charge The glass ceiling at the retail level has been broken many times
Modern Tire Dealer has compiled the following alphabetical list of some of the female managers and executives who have worked in and run independent tire dealerships in the U.S. over the last 100 years.
Of special note are four women with additional claims to fame. Pam Gatto-Gallo and Freda Pratt-Boyer are the only two women elected president of the tire industry’s national association. In Gallo’s case it was the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (which eventually morphed into the Tire Industry Association, or TIA) in 1997. In Pratt-Boyer’s case it was TIA in 2014.
The only two women to be named Tire Dealer of the Year by MTD are Juanita Purcell (along with her husband, Bob Purcell) in 2004 and Diane Hennelly (along with her husband, Dan Hennelly) in 2013.
Sue Adams, owner/manager, Big O Tires Inc. franchise, Englewood, Colo. Beth Barron, CEO, Chabill’s Tire and Auto Service LLC, Morgan City, La. Lindsey Beer, operations manager, Best-One Tire & Service, Upland, Ind. Tammy Belldina, manager, Tire Lady’s Rainbow Tire, Morgantown, W.V. Maria Borrelli, president, Pro 1 Tire Service Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y. Freda Pratt-Boyer, senior auditor, Purcell Tire & Rubber Co., Potosi, Mo. Joanne Brock, president, Adams-Zuker Tire Co., Cedartown, Ga. DD Coley, president, Consumer Tire Inc., Chardon, Ohio Pam Cooper, owner, Alltread Tire Co., Katy, Texas Kristen Cristy, owner/president, Reeves Tire & Automotive Co., Joplin, Mo. Christine Croucher, owner, Tire Lady’s Rainbow Tire, Morgantown, W.V. Suzy Darter, owner, Best One Tire & Auto Care of Marion, Marion, Ind. Carol Poff-Delabalma, owner/manager, T.P. Tire Service Inc., Arcata, Calif. Pat Fleischmann, director of first impressions, Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair, Phoenix, Ariz. Cathy Flemmer, manager, Lignite Tire Service, Hazen, N.D. Audra Fordin, owner, Great Bear Auto Repair & Auto Body, Flushing, N.Y. Ann Gaither, chairman, J.H. Heafner Co., Lincolnton, N.C. Tish Gammage, secretary/treasurer, Adams-Zuker Tire Co., Cedartown, Ga. Pam Gatto-Gallo, president, Mike Gatto Inc., Melbourne, Fla. Cheryl Gossard, president, K&M Tire Inc., Delphos, Ohio Connie Hartje, owner/manager, Hartje Farm, Home & Tire Center Inc., La Valle, Wis. Terry Hawthorne, co-owner, Hawthorne Wholesale Tire, San Marcos, Calif. Diane Hennelly, co-owner/CFO, Hennelly Tire & Auto Inc./Tire Choice, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dee Dee Henry, manager, Discount Auto Parts and Tires, Lake Charles, La. Connie Honey, owner, North Jackson Tire Center LLC, Tullahoma, Tenn. Molly Ivey, owner, Pueblo Tires & Service, southern Texas Sherri Johnson, manager, Gatto’s Tire & Auto Service, Palm Bay, Fla. Joy Kokaisel, co-owner, Norm’s Tire Sales Inc., Roseville, Minn. Cheryl Lentz, owner, Lentz Tire & Service Center, Trinity, Ala. Denise Littlefield, president, Stratham Tire Inc., Brentwood, N.H. Nora Love, manager, Wearwell Tire Store, St. Louis, Mo. Sherry Clay-Marcoe, president, Jeff Clay & Sons Inc., Kissimmee, Fla. Jill Marcotte, partner/chief supply chain officer, Dealer Tire LLC, Cleveland, Ohio Katie Marsh, co-owner, Dan the Tire Man LLC, Cave Creek, Ariz. Dot McGowan, vice president, Adams-Zuker Tire Co., Cedartown, Ga. Kalina Petersen, co-owner, Alignment Pros-Point S, Gillette, Wyo. Chris Picarello, manager, Middle Island Discount Tire, Middle Island, N.Y. Cecelia Picarello, owner, Middle Island Discount Tire, Middle Island, N.Y. Patti Piscione, owner, Carter Tire Sales & Service, Elkhart, Ind. Juanita Purcell, executive vice president/board member, Purcell Tire & Rubber Co., Potosi, Mo. Helen Ralls, president, Ralls & Ladd Tire Service, Chowchilla, Calif. Josephine Roberts, manager, United Tire Store, Indianapolis, Ind. Ann Schmidt, president, Wells-Schmidt Tire Co. in Wood River, Ill. Jo Ann Scott, co-owner/manager, Clark’s Tire & Automotive, Taft, Calif. Lisa Sheerin, owner, Network Tire Inc., Warrington, Pa. Katrina Smith, manager, Phoenix Auto Center Tire Pros, Phoenix, Ore. Linda South, co-owner, South Tire & Auto Service Inc., Cocoa Beach, Fla. Gail Sowles, owner, Clark’s Tire and Automotive, Taft, Calif. Christie Stock, president, Associated Tire Stores Inc., Logan, Utah Cynthia Strunk, owner, Gulf Coast L&P Inc./RNR Custom Wheels & Tires, Moss Point, Miss. Kim Batson-Sutphen, owner/president, Batson Tire & Automotive Center Inc., Bryan, Texas Ruth Trower, co-owner/secretary/treasurer, Clay Dooley Tire & Auto Service, Bloomington, Ill. Rosemary Tucker, owner, Tucker Tire Co., Covina, Calif. Wilma Veldman, co-owner, The Tire Rack Inc., South Bend, Ind. Patty Virgilio, CFO, Callaghan Tire Inc., Bradenton, Fla. Roshie Weightman, co-owner, Morpheus Investments, dba Tire Works Total Car Care, Las Vegas, Nev. Rita Williams, CFO, Brahler’s Truckers Supply Co., Jacksonville, Ill. Tracey Williams, vice president, Jack Williams Tire Co. Inc., Moosic, Pa. Debby Wisdom, manager, Wisdom’s Tire Co., West Monroe, La.
“Although roughly half of the consumers who are invited to take the BrightLine Tire Survey are female, female respondents are less likely than male respondents to say they were the decision maker.
“As a result,” says Ladd, “the 2018 BrightLine Tire Survey (indicated) that only 41% of tire decision makers were female (see chart on page 44).”
Pam Gatto-Gallo, owner of Gatto’s Tires and Auto Service, a six-store chain based in Melbourne, Fla., always caters to the customer, whether male or female.
When she took over the reins of the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association in 1997, she told MTD that if she was manning the desk and a man asked to talk with a man, she would defer to one of her male employees. “It’s all about the sale,” she said at the time.
More than 20 years later, she answers in the same way.
“I don’t think we face that question anymore, or rarely. Whoever the customer feels more comfortable with, that is who he or she gets. It’s about the sale.” 100 YEARS AGO… In our first issue, published one year before women had the right to vote, we ran the aforementioned story on Mrs. N.E. Love (the “N” stands for Nora), who set up a Wearwell Tire store in St. Louis. Her story, reprinted on pages 46 and 48, is 100 years old, and her Wearwell brand tires have long since disappeared from the aftermarket. But some of her methods ring true today.
As an aside, the author of the story, F.A. (for Francis Albert) Behymer, worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 64 years.
TIRES & ACCESSORIES
TIRE selling as a business career for women is all right, according to Mrs. N. E. Love, but she qualifies her opinion very strongly by prefixing “some” to women. However, she has proven herself decidedly capable not only as a saleswoman, but as an organizer and executive as well. Her chief selling approach is a dash of yellow paint and in her comparatively short selling career she has established yellow tire sentinels in several mid-west cities. That in her particular case the “yellow streak” pays is demonstrated by the fact that during the first six weeks her St. Louis branch was running it did a business totaling five figures.
A Woman, Yellow Paint and Tires! Here’s a Combination That Has Been Stirring Things Up in St. Louis - A Yellow Spread That Proves to be A Sales Builder and How It Is Applied by Mrs. Love
BY F. A . BEHYMER
MRS. N. E. LOVE has arrived in St. Louis. You can tell that by the vermilion splash at the northeast corner of Twelfth and Chestnut streets and the other kind of splash in the local tire pool.
When Mrs. Love went to St. Louis for the Wilson Tire and Rubber Co., of Springfield Ill., the first thing that she did, after picking out the Twelfth and Chestnut streets corner as a good place to make her jump into St. Louis tiredom, was to hunt up a painter and order him to take a bucketful of his yellowest yellow paint and spread it over the front and side of the building. Mrs. Love says it’s orange. Well, all right, let’s call it orange. Whatever its name it did the business. Every motorist who came by, and Twelfth street and Chestnut street swarm with machines, SAW that corner and wondered who was moving in and what was the main idea anyhow.
Mrs. Love gave the paint time enough to soak in and the curiosity of motorists long enough to bubble over, and then she handed the painter a piece of paper and a sketched design of a tire rampant, coming at you at an angle of 45 degrees, and told him to put that on the Chestnut street side of the building and to put it there big!
The painter went to work and at the end of the day the motorists homeward bound read on the yellow (beg pardon, orange) side of the building, inside of the tire rampant, the word WEARWELL; on one side, “The tire that is true to its name,” and on the other side, “Save 40 per cent on tires and tubes.”
That was what you might call a good sign. That is, it caught the eye, it introduced to motorists a tire with a name which would stick and wear well, backed up with a slogan easy to remember, and clinched with a proffered saving of 40 per cent.
No Lost Motion Here No time was lost in getting the goods on hand to back up the sign. Truckloads were dumped on the sidewalk and carried inside and piled up without any particular system, the racks not having arrived. The thing was to get ready for the motorists who wanted to save that 40 per cent. They kept piling the tires up until there were $18,000 worth, and about $2,000 worth of tubes, and then, about six weeks ago, the yellow doors were thrown open and the motorists were invited to come on in and get the tire that is true to its name. Mrs. Love says they came to such effect that in less than six weeks the store sold $10,000 worth of tires.
Mrs. Love has the distinction of being the only woman tire agency manager in St. Louis and the only tire agency manager of any sex who has perceived the efficacy of yellow paint and spread it on to the limit.
For six years Mrs. Love has been opening Wilson company branches and she has opened each one by making it look like a puddle of yellow paint. She has caught the eyes of four cities that way and plans to catch the eyes of more cities.
It chanced that Mrs. Love was a neighbor of James W. McIlvaine, president of the Wilson company, who thought she would make a tire woman and backed his judgment by sending her to Minneapolis to open the company’s first tire branch. With yellow paint and the elimination of the middlemen’s profit, she made it go, and from there she went to Chicago and gave that town the yellow paint treatment, which was good for the town and good for the Wilson company. From there she went to Kansas City with her Wearwell yellow paint and her Wearwell Tires.
And now she’s showing the Missourians! And she likes St. Louis so well that she is going to stay there. She will be the permanent manager of the St. Louis branch, but that does not means that she will not go here and there from time to time and put yellow spots on the map. She spent part of last winter in Washington and Virginia, with yellow paint and Wearwell tires in mind, and it will not be long, probably, before there will be an agency in Washington or Richmond or both. And Oklahoma looks good for next winter, with great numbers of California tourists taking the Southern route.
That was how Mrs. Love got into the tire business, and she likes it so well that she expects to stay in always. She likes it, she says, because it is connected with automobiles and she likes automobiles. And as a selling proposition it is just one article and she is able to offer it at bargain factory prices. It may not be generally known, but a woman likes to sell bargains as well as buy them. Mrs. Love gets no end of enjoyment out of her tire bargains.
She reaches the users, aside from the yellow paint and the 40 per cent sign, by newspaper advertisements on a modest scale, and by circularizing every automobile owner in her territory. Those circulars, which give the prices of the different treads and the tubes, bring her a big lot of business, she says. All that the customer has to do is to fill out a blank form and send it to her. He gets the tire back by express or parcel post, C.O.D. Most of the buyers never see the tire until they take it out of the post office or the express office, but Mrs. Love says they never send it back and ask for their money.
Circulars Her Ammunition Since she opened the St. Louis branch she has been circularizing Missouri, Southern Illinois and Arkansas, and the results are pouring in.
The yellow store is two blocks from Locust street, which is the automobile street and the tire street, but Mrs. Love doesn’t care to be crowded. She thinks her yellow paint has a better chance at a corner like Twelfth and Chestnut. And rents are cheaper. And one is not bothered by “lookers,” who go from store to store.
As for the tire business as a career for women, Mrs. Love says it is all right for some women. Some, in this case, she says, means a whole lot. Meaning that it is a good business for the women who are adapted to it. There is nothing disagreeable about it. Most of her customers are men, and she has found that they like bargains as well as women. She has found it pleasant competing with men and has always received every courtesy from her male competitors and feels that she holds her own with them, and so all is well at the place of the yellow paint.
Mrs. Love has with her Ralph and Carl McIlvaine, sons of the president of the company, who are in training to take charge of yellow-front branches, and Mrs. A. M. Pears, who was in the hotel business at Madison, Wis., until Mrs. Love persuaded her to go into tires.
10% net profit
GET YOUR FAIR SHARE FOR THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICE YOU PROVIDE
By Dennis McCarron
J
oey Doughnuts works at Sal’s Automotive. Has for years.
Joey got set up with a 401(k). There’s no company match, but he puts away about 6% of his $70,000 a year salary (let’s just make the math easy and assume he never gets a raise — poor kid). At the end of his long and successful career working at the shop, Joey has about $700,000 socked away for retirement.
Now let’s look at Sal himself. The entrepreneur. Turned his back on the corporate world to make a name for himself. Sweated out the first couple years — sometimes thinking he made a big mistake. Some weeks, he went without a paycheck, so he could afford to pay his people. The business had its bumpy start. With a lot of hard work, trust in his employees, and an honest work the business. She’s a successful physician’s assistant. Maybe one of the techs or sales staff wants to take over? Maybe one of the competitors a few miles away, or the big chain store one town over has some interest?
Sal doesn’t know what the future holds, but he spends an awful lot of time thinking about it.
If Sal were to put his business on the market today, he would, or at least be advised, to use a term called EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) to figure out what his business is worth. Essentially, since Sal runs a pretty clean business, let’s assume his EBITDA is $50,000. Sal’s Automotive is in a desirable location, good town, too. So let’s further assume there’s interest by a few parties. Sal can collect what is called a multiplier of his EBITDA of about three times the base amount. Sal can sell his business for $150,000. Yikes. Let’s not even talk about what part of that $150k is actually Sal’s. We haven’t mentioned debt or taxes yet.
Wait… what?
How is Sal’s employee enjoying nearly three quarters of a million dollars in retirement and Sal is trying to find a buyer so he can retire on less than $150,000?
Easy. Sal accepted the “industry norm” of about 2% to 3% net
profits. If Sal had managed his business financially and made the tough, results-oriented decisions he needed to make, Sal would have earned 10% net profit year-over-year. That would have resulted in $150,000 a year in net profit on the same volume of sales. At
three times EBITDA, that puts Sal in a much more comfortable $450,000. And since he was making $150,000 a year net profit,
Sal also paid off all his debt. He even bought the land the business ethic, Sal’s Automotive turns a profit. Not much, but it’s consistent. an additional $75,000 a year. If Sal lives for 10 years after he sells From about $1.5 million dollars in sales, Sal’s his business, he will have accumulated $1.2 turns 2% net profit. $30,000 a year. It’s not a million dollars in retirement. That makes a lot, but the other shops Sal talks to seem to EVERY YEAR, YOU HAVE A lot more sense, doesn’t it? be the same. Matter of fact, he’s heard that’s Earning 10% net profit isn’t easy. It isn’t about industry average. Sal is proud of his CHANCE TO BE FAIR supposed to be. If it were, there would be shop, and he should be. four shops on every corner of America, and
Yet, Sal is starting to feel a lifetime of TO YOUR CUSTOMERS, two more in the middle of every street. It’s working on cars, working in the cold, kneelnot easy, but it’s the fair share, the payout ing on hard concrete. He doesn’t complain, YOUR EMPLOYEES, AND the business earns for the risks it takes (10% but he has sure slowed down on any work net does not go in the owner’s pockets). The he personally does in the shop. He tries to YOURSELF. EARNING business has a high probability of worker stay “up front” and talk with customers. injury. It has a high probability of vehicle A lot is going through Sal’s mind lately. 10% ISN’T A CRIME. damage. Relative risk of an oil out, wheel He hasn’t really set up a plan — you know off, an angry customer who wants their — what’s he going to do when he actually money back even though the business didn’t’ decides to call it a day? His daughter wants nothing to do with do anything wrong they were just the “last ones to touch it.”
sits on, so now he can sell the business and be a landlord, earning Lawsuits. Long hours. Ten percent should be the bare minimum a business should accept for all the risk it takes. The owner should demand these results. Because eventually, there will come a day where it’s someone else’s turn to take the risk. And like a lot of entrepreneurs, many won’t be eligible for social security. All they can rely on is the profits from the sale of the company. If owners play their cards right, maybe become a landlord. $150,000 or $450,000 plus rent. As an owner it’s up to you. Every year, you have a chance to be fair to your customers, your
employees, and yourself. Earning 10% isn’t a crime. It’s 10 cents on every dollar sold. The rest (90 cents of every dollar) goes to vendors, employees and expenses.
Make good sales. Earn gross profit from those sales, pay your bills, and start earning your retirement.
Dennis McCarron is a partner at Cardinal Brokers, the leading brokers in the tire and automotive industry (www.cardinalbrokers.com). To contact McCarron, email him at dennis@cardinalbrokers.com.
A positive year behind them and more to come from Falken Europe
By John Stone
Falken Tire as part of the Sumitomo Rubber Industries Group is a leading tire manufacturer that is recognized as a major global brand that continues to gain market growth as a very ambitious company within the industry. Apart from being well known in North America, they are also viewed as a popular option throughout all European countries and particularly in the ultra-high performance sector which can be firmly attributed to the brand’s ongoing success in motorsport events.
I was recently invited to meet with Markus Bogner, managing director and chief operating officer of Falken Tire Europe GmbH at the division’s headquarters in Offenbach, just outside Frankfurt,
Germany, to exclusively discuss the European group’s successes in 2018 and potential achievements for the year ahead in 2019.
Bogner explained that Falken’s main marketing focus has been through its positive involvement in motorsport throughout Europe for the past 20 years. They are currently racing two cars — a new
Porsche and an established BMW team — and it is anticipated that success on the track will continue during the coming year.
Bogner adds, “However, in the past couple of years we have significantly broadened our market exposure and in particular turned toward professional (European) football sponsorship deals which at present totals an impressive 24 leading clubs across Europe including Liverpool FC (UK), Athletico Madrid and Seville (Spain) as the larger, more well-known clubs.”
It is also interesting to note that for 2019 the company has been appointed as the official sponsor of the 26th IHF Mens Handball
World Championship in Denmark and Germany, which recently took place in January, and Bogner says, “This additional sponsorship project into European handball further enhances our promotional commitment in sporting events as part of Falken’s brand strategy to continually expand our media presence in a number of different corporate avenues.”
When questioned about sales and product advancements during 2018, Bogner pointed out that the company had continued to grow its OE sales over the past two to three years and over the past 12 months they had commenced supplying tires for the new Mercedes
G-Class Luxury SUV model which is fitted with its WildPeak A/
T3WA and AS210A patterns in size 265/60R18. He adds, “This latest
OE partnership success further highlights our proven success in the
SUV and off-road performance market sectors and we anticipate other premium vehicle manufacturers will join forces with Falken for exciting new product fitments in the future.”
Predictably my next question was, “It sounds like Falken is not just about performance tires in Europe then, so what other advancements has the brand made recently?” Markus explained,
“Yes, that is correct, and in general there has been a progressive expansion of our tire range with an extensive amount of new sizes
Markus Bogner credits Falken’s involvement in racing for the European group’s success.
The Falken Europe motorsport team races with a new Porsche and an established BMW team.
becoming available in the all-season, winter, truck and bus market sectors during the past 12 months. This includes the Eurowinter HS01 pattern which now offers 99 size options plus the Eurowinter HS01 SUV with 39 current sizes. At the same time, more sizes have been added to the popular Falken G1388 tire which specializes in regional transport and construction site operations.”
It also seems that Falken has been busy when it comes to tire testing in consumer magazines with impressive performances in Germany and the UK in 2018 by beating many more traditional premium manufacturers. Bogner firmly believes this has created a crucial turning point with the Falken brand now being recognized as a genuine contender in the premium tire field throughout Europe. He is sure this can be credited to the company’s special design features through its unique 4DNANO process. This process has now been implemented across the entire tire range and ensures an even better grip and overall road performance.
When I asked Bogner about what lies ahead this year he confirmed that there will be more OE product launches along with additional expansion of the tire size assortment which will incorporate new high performance patterns for the SUV and run-flat patterns in order to gain even wider corporate presence in Europe. He says, “There is no doubt that 2018 was a very successful year for us with strong sales results in all European countries and volumes exceeded our expectations. We confidently expect this momentum to continue which will be boosted by our new research and development facility in Germany which is now fully operational.”
Bogner is adamant that Falken, having been able to meet the changing market demands in specific versions of tires for various OEMs and vehicle lines, can proceed even further as a leading brand in 2019, not just in Europe but on an international basis.
John Stone has been working within the global tire industry for the past 28 years. In 2004 he launched his own consulting company, Sapphire Media Service, which caters to business media clients around the globe. Stone also writes for tire and automotive-related publications in Europe, South Africa and Asia.
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Point S dealers invest in digital tools
ADDING TOYO IS ‘AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH’
Joy Kopcha
There’s a lot of noise about online tire sales, but the leaders of Point S in the U.S. and around the world want their members to focus on the bigger picture. The internet has changed how tires are sold at the front counter, too.
“When you don’t price online and you don’t have a good presence online, you’re missing that consumer experience from the very first touch point, from the first time a consumer begins shopping for tires,” says Walter Lybeck, CEO of Tire Factory Inc., the cooperative of independent dealers that markets itself as Point S USA. “I believe the experience online is what should be focused on. That’s something we can do as an organization that other organizations cannot do.”
Overall, Point S dealers in the U.S. have been slow to add tire prices and sales onto their websites, but Lybeck says the group is turning the corner and “more are willing to adapt.” That makes it an opportune time for the cooperative to roll out a new platform of tools to help its tire dealers maximize their online capabilities, and combine them with the consumer trust dealers already have earned in their brick-and-mortar storefronts. The group’s members are investing $200 a month to improve the digital marketing tools.
The new All-Trac platform is designed to help tire dealers throughout the consumer buying process, from online search and
Three more takeaways
Toyo. Tire Factory’s home base is in Portland, Ore., and for 52 years one tire dealer has had exclusive access to the Toyo brand in the Pacific Northwest. That exclusive partnership with Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. ended Jan. 1, 2019. (Read all about it on page 8.) By February 2019 the four Point S warehouses in the U.S. began stocking Toyo tires. (Toyo was already a big brand for Point S in Canada.) “It’s an opportunity for growth, especially in the Northwest,” Lybeck says. To add Toyo in the U.S., Point S ended its domestic partnership with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. Memphis. In December 2017 Point S achieved a big goal when it found its first distribution partner in the eastern U.S. Mike Nussbaum, owner of Nussbaum Distributing Inc., is delivering to the first six Point S stores in the Memphis region. Point S has hired a full-time recruiter in Memphis, Gary Ward, to lead the effort to build up that network. “It’s been a banner year,” Lybeck says. Marketing. The cooperative is unveiling a new marketing campaign in 2019, and it makes two promises to consumers. When tires are bought online and the installation appointment is made online, consumers can expect to be in and out in one hour. Plus, they’ll ride on a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. The tagline: No Stress With Point S.
Three Point S CEOs attended the 2019 dealer meeting for U.S. tire dealers. From left, Walter Lybeck, CEO in the U.S., Christophe Rollet, CEO in France, and Fabien Bouquet, CEO of Point S International. The leaders expect new digital tools will help the U.S. dealers beat the 10% increase in sales they recorded in 2018. Same store sales also were up 10% in 2018.
tire selection, to appointment setting, measuring customer satisfaction after the sale, and finding a path to pick up declined services.
1. Online scheduler: When consumers visit the website of any Point S tire dealer in the U.S., they’ll have the ability to shop for tires, select maintenance services and make the appointment online. With All-Trac, the scheduler will access the dealer’s tire inventory, the Point S warehouse inventory, the schedule and abilities of the store’s technicians, and the overall appointment calendar so consumers can choose a time that works. 2. Reputation management: Within a couple days of a consumer’s visit to a Point S location, a customer service agent will call the customer and ask “how did we do?” The company has partnered with BPO Solutions Group and a specific team is handling Point S phone calls, and also will manage after-hours questions submitted via online chats. 3. Declined services: Forty-five days after a consumer has declined one or multiple automotive services on an invoice, a customer service agent will call the customer to remind them of the work that needs to be done, and find out if it’s been addressed. If it’s been completed elsewhere, they’ll make a note of that. If it still needs to be done, the caller will attempt to set up an appointment.
Fabien Bouquet, CEO of Point S International, says the group’s tire dealers in the UK have been focusing on declined services for the past two years, and have been able to add, on average, $65,000 in sales per location, by engaging with consumers and reminding them of those needed services.
Bob Fox and his son Nick Fox own two Point S stores in Montana. Nick Fox says the company’s database shows consumers decline $150,000 of automotive services at each of their stores every month. They’re piloting the program for other Point S dealers, and they recouped $6,000 in services in the first three weeks.
Focus On Industry Federal releases a new kind of M/T tire
XPLORA MTS IS ONE OF FOUR NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2019
By Joy Kopcha
What does a hybrid ultra-high performance tire and mud-terrain tire look like? Federal Tire North America LLC has the answer — the Xplora MTS.
Two years ago Federal considered this a concept tire, but Chairman Jamie Ma says the reaction to the beefy tire with wide, directional grooves was so strong the company is bringing it to market.
Production of the Xplora MTS began in January, and the first shipments are arriving this month in 20-, 22- and 24-inch sizes. In the fourth quarter Federal will add 17- and 18-inch sizes, and 26-inch sizes will follow in early to mid-2020. Here’s a look at the initial lineup:
20 inch: 22 inch:
24 inch: 35x12.50R20LT 121Q 10PR 35x12.50R22LT 117Q 10PR 37x12.50R22LT 127Q 10PR 37x13.50R22LT 123Q 10PR 40x15.50R22LT 128Q 10PR 35x12.50R24LT 114Q 10PR 37x13.50R24LT 120Q 10PR 38x15.50R24LT 127P 10PR 40x15.50R24LT 128P 10PR 42x15.50R24LT 130Q 8PR
“We had private showings at SEMA
Federal Tire is “a company on the move,” says Steve Hutchinson. He’s working as an advisor alongside Chairman Jamie Ma, center, and Joseph Kao, operations manager, far right. In addition to launching the Xplora MTS, Federal will release new R/T, A/T and UHP tires in 2019.
and received such positive feedback we decided to bring the prototype MTS to market without any changes,” Ma says.
Steve Hutchinson, who is working as an advisor to Federal, says the tire is “as mean as it looks.” The catch is, the tire isn’t meant for off-road duty. It’s marketed for Jeep and lifted light truck enthusiasts. “It’s for the city dweller who has a high desire for considerable styling.”
The Xplora MTS features:
• V-shaped grooves, which provide tire rigidity and protect against chips and cuts; • an armor-like appearance, with massive tire blocks that provide steering and traction control for stability, safety and performance; • wide, directional grooves, which reduce hydroplaning on wet roads, and also provide for added comfort and reduced noise; and • linear shoulder blocks to help with comfort, and improve steering control.
The tire features a new silica-infused compound — it’s a combination of an UHP tire compound and a M/T tire compound.
Ma says Federal saw an opportunity to serve the consumers who want the looks of the off-road life, while sticking to the pavement. And even though there’s been a flash of M/T tire introductions in recent years, Ma says, “everybody has been very conventional with the traditional M/T, and nothing has been revolutionized to match the fashion trend.”
LOOKING TO GROW Federal opened its North American office in Torrance, Calif., two years ago, and is making its move into the market, Hutchinson says. “We have a ways to go, but our roots are taking hold. We’re expanding our distribution and we have a lot of good things coming in the next few years. New products. New people. We’re hiring. We’re a company on the move.”
The Xplora MTS is designed for the urban cowboy, and “has a brave, out-ofthis-world kind of look,” says Ma.
As it works to expand its reach in the U.S., Federal is looking to fill in areas of the Midwest and Southeast with additional tire distributors in those regions. Because the company doesn’t have its own warehouses in the U.S., it relies on distributors to buy containers of tires, as well as those retailers who can purchase containers and then distribute the tires to their own stores.
Tom Hofmann is CEO and president of Freedom Tire Distributing Inc., and for the last four years his Corona, Calif.,-based company has distributed Federal tires throughout southern California — from Los Angeles to Mexico.
He says the Xplora MTS is a prime example of what Federal adds to his product lineup. “It’s unique,” Hofmann says. “That’s where Federal has done well for us.” Freedom Tire Distributing carries the full Federal line, and Hofmann expects the Xplora MTS to be a good addition to the mix. Hofmann says he thinks the stylized tire for light truck and Jeep owners is “a great opportunity. The trendy stuff always starts here (in California.)”
Focus On Industry
Goodyear introduces new tires, new sizes and more e-commerce
By Bob Ulrich
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. introduced a number of consumer and commercial tires at its 2019 Customer Conference in Dallas, Texas, last month. Mike Dwyer, chief customer officer in North America, told attendees the new consumer tires were based on requests from dealers who sell Goodyear tires. So was the addition of key sizes to the Wrangler Fortitude HT line.
“You told us consumers wanted a performance tire that also delivered superior braking on wet roads, (and) that you wanted Goodyear products that revitalized our winter offerings,” he said. “And finally, you told us you wanted a product in the right size that can fit the changing cargo van market, the ones used by small businesses, big businesses and companies delivering packages, the ‘last mile.’
“We took your feedback to heart.”
GOODYEAR EXHILARATION The Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is the newest top tier, ultra-high performance all-season tire in the U.S. and Canada.
“The importance of wet traction is key to winning in this segment,” said Dwyer. It will replace the Eagle F1 Asymmetric All Season in April 2019.
Mike Pulte, general manager of product marketing, said the tire features a new mold shape, a new tread pattern and new compounding.
The Eagle Exhilarate is far superior in wet traction, and better in winter compared to the F1 Asymmetric All Season, said Rob Schott, chief engineer of research, development, engineering and quality. It performs comparably “across the board” in dry conditions. Both tires feature a 45,000-mile limited tread wear warranty.
The premium-priced Exhilarate will compete against tires like
The Fortitude HT has added three C-type sizes. Goodyear’s Amy Buehner says they cover “the entirety of the full-size cargo van C-type requirements.”
The new Goodyear Ultra Grip RTD is “a winter tire,” said Cary Budzinski, senior director of commercial sales for Goodyear in the U.S. and Canada, to attendees. The heavy hitters attending the 2019 Goodyear Customer Conference in Dallas included, left to right: Ed Fabrizio from Wholesale Tire Distributors; Joe Tomarchio from Monro Inc.; and Stephen Clave and Paul Pittner from Dunn Tire LLC.
the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06, the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS and the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+.
TIER 2 AND 3 WINTER TIRES Dwyer also talked about the new Goodyear WinterCommand, a mid-tier tire that “represents a complete evolution of our winter line up. (It is) so important we renamed our offering to reflect the improvements.”
The WinterCommand replaces the Ultra Grip Winter, which had been in the company’s lineup for seven years. Pulte said the new tire is superior to its predecessor in ice braking and ice traction, with “no sacrifices” in other performance categories.
The tire line features three specialized tread patterns designed to be paired with specific vehicle types for optimal, customized performance. All three patterns are engineered with full-depth zigzag sipes.
It will be available in the third quarter in 54 studdable sizes up to 20 inches, including “a lot of growth sizes for CUVs and SUVs,” said Pulte. They also are stamped with the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake designation.
The tire will compete against the Firestone Winterforce 2 and General Altimax Arctic 12. Goodyear’s top tier winter tire is the Ultra Grip Ice WRT.
In addition, Goodyear will not only launch a third-tier winter tire, the Kelly WinterAccess, for the economy consumer, but also build on last year’s introduction of the Eagle Enforcer All Weather tire for law enforcement vehicles with an Enforcer winter tire.
C-TYPE CARGO VAN SIZES The cargo van market “is rapidly changing around us, as we are seeing tires sizes not common in North America,” said Dwyer. “These unique sizes have grown over 30% at OE since 2015.
Goodyear is adding 13 sizes to the line. Three of the new sizes are commercial service radial (C-type) sizes: 235/65R16C, 195/75R16C and 225/75R16C.
“The C does not stand for Load Range C,” said Amy Buehner, product marketing manager for all-terrain and specialty tires. “The C does stand for commercial service radial, and it’s nomenclature that comes to us from the European Tire and Rim Technical Organization… the European version of the Tire & Rim Association.
“This is an incredibly important distinction, because neither a passenger tire nor an LT Load Range C tire in the same size can carry the load of the C-type tire.” To help avoid confusion, Goodyear molded “Load Range E” or “Load Range D” underneath the size on the sidewall.
The C-type tires are manufactured in Gadsden Ala., said Buehner. The 235/65R16C just started production and is available for order now. The two additional C-type sizes will be available in the second half of this year.
The other 10 new sizes are heavy-duty LT sizes ranging from LT215/85R16 to LT285/60R20. The expansion increases the total number of sizes to 48.
There are a lot of tire options open to owners of full-size cargo vans, said Dustin Lancy, marketing manager for commercial tires.
For example, there are at least six tire options – four different tire lines –for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, including a nonretreadable Wrangler Fortitude HT and a retreadable Endurance RSA ULT.
“So whether (full-size van owners) are interested in acquisition costs or… cost per mile, we will be able to service them,” said Lancy.
Original equipment fitments Goodyear keeps adding to its total
One of the ways Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. says it helps drive customers to dealers who sell Goodyear tires is with targeted original equipment fitments.
Mike Dwyer, chief customer officer in the U.S. and Canada, told tire dealers attending the recent 2019 Goodyear Customer Conference in Dallas that the OE landscape is changing.
“There is more competition than ever before as (other) tire manufacturers look to build the relationships Goodyear developed long ago and continues to enjoy.”
Goodyear brand tires are fitted on four of the five top selling vehicles in the U.S., he said. “And we remain the number one supplier on full-size trucks, a position we have held for the past 20 years.”
The company has what it calls “premium” fitments on the Ford F series, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ram Truck.
“We also understand that to maintain our position, we must focus on both present and future fitments,” said Dwyer.
Goodyear recently landed an electric vehicle fitment with Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. It also is supplying tires for the new Hyundai Kona EV and its first two Volkswagen fitments in the U.S.
“For 2019, Goodyear commands 110 OE fitments, creating loyalty that drives consumers to your stores.”
According to Modern Tire Dealer research, Goodyear’s OE market share in the U.S. and Canada is 24%.
The Goodyear Endurance RSA ULT tires on this Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van have a matching pattern for retreading.
REGIONAL TRUCK TIRES Goodyear also launched two truck tires for regional fleets: the Goodyear Fuel Max RTD and Ultra Grip RTD. “Long-haul is still the biggest segment in North America,” said Dave Beasley, vice president of commercial tires. “But regional haul is gaining ground quickly.”
Beasley said that growth is driven by
1. growth in e-commerce, 2. the increase of distribution hubs, and 3. more demand for last-mile delivery.
The Fuel Max RTD is Goodyear’s premium drive traction tire. Thanks in part to a new low rolling resistant tread compound, it is designed to balance enhanced fuel efficiency with long miles to removal and traction.
It will be available will be available during the fourth quarter of 2019 in the following sizes: 295/75R22.5 LR G/H; 11R22.5 LR G/H), 255/70R22.5 LR H; 255/70R29.5 LR G; and 225/70R19.5 LRH.
The new Goodyear Ultra Grip RTD is designed for regional trucks that run in severe weather conditions.
The company says it features a proven tread design and compound for long, even wear; 25/32-inch tread depth for long miles to removal; complex sipe geometry with variable tread depth to help provide excellent traction as the tire wears; and conical stone ejectors to limit stone trapping.
The all-season truck tire also will hit the market during the fourth quarter, in size 11R22.5 LR H.
ONLINE TRUCK TIRE SALES Goodyear’s e-commerce program for commercial tires is in the testing stage, and will officially launch in the third quarter of this year. It will be available via Goodyear’s commercial tire website, www.goodyeartrucktires.com.
Owner-operators and small fleets will be able to buy Goodyear truck tires online with a credit card and select an installation date and time with a participating dealer.
“We are in a unique position to draw on our experience with e-commerce for consumer tires and be the first to bring a commercial program to the market,” said Lancy.
Like its consumer tire counterpart, the online truck tire program will provide participating Goodyear commercial tire dealers with delivery commissions and installation revenue.
Toyota Sienna 2007-1 8
MOTOR SALES U.S.A. INC.
SUBJECT VEHICLES: 2007 –2018 Toyota Sienna. RELEARN PROCEDURE? No. SPECIAL TOOLS NEEDED? Yes, a Toyota Techstream.
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) on 2007 – 2018 Toyota Siennas is designed to provide warning when tire inflation pressure of one or more road tires is low. A tire pressure warning valve sub-assembly equipped with a tire pressure sensor/transmitter is installed in each tire and wheel assembly. The sensor measures the air pressure and internal temperature of the tire.
These measured values and the transmitter ID are transmitted to the tire pressure monitor antenna and receiver assembly on the body via radio waves.
This data is then sent to the tire pressure monitor electronic control unit (ECU) from the tire pressure monitor receiver. If the transmitter ID has been previously registered, the ECU compares the measured air pressure value and the standard value. When the value is less than the standard value registered in the tire pressure monitor ECU, the tire pressure warning light on the instrument cluster will turn on. In order to reset the warning threshold in response to changes in tire pressure values due to tire type and installation position changes, a tire pressure warning reset switch is used.
This switch is used to initialize the system after certain repair procedures. Under the following conditions, the system may not function properly: • Facilities or devices that use similar radio wave frequencies are located in the vicinity. • A radio device of similar frequency is used near the vehicle.
• A large amount ofsnowor ice is stuck to the vehicle, especially around the wheels or wheel housings. • The ID of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter has not been registered with the ECU. • Tires and wheels are installed that are
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Figure 2: Identifying the data link connector (DLC3) terminals.
not equipped with a tire pressure sensor. • A type of film that affects radio waves has been affixed to the windows. • Snow tires or tire chains are used. • The battery of the sensor has been depleted. • Wheels other than manufacturer factory wheels are being used. If wheels other than those specified are used, the system may not function properly because of interruptions in transmissions from the tire pressure sensor. Depending on the tire type, the system may not function properly even though the specified wheels are used. • The compact spare tire is installed. The compact spare does include a tire pressure sensor and transmitter. • If the system was initialized with tire pressures not at the specified values.
TPMS WARNING LIGHT NOTE: The tire pressure warning light may turn on due to natural causes such as natural air leaks or tire pressure changes caused by temperature. In this case, adjusting the tire pressure will turn off the warning light.
NOTE: If the warning light turned on due to very low outside temperatures that caused decreases in tire pressure (such as in the winter), adjust the pressure to a higher pressure suitable to cold conditions. Tire pressure decreases by about 1.45 psi (10 kPa) for every 18 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) drop in ambient temperature.
NOTE: The compact spare tire is not equipped with the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter. If a tire goes flat, the warning light will not turn off when the flat tire is replaced with the spare. When the standard tire is repaired, inflated to the specified level and returned to the vehicle, the warning light will go out.
When the tire pressure warning light does not go off, or when it comes on during driving, check tire pressure and adjust as necessary. The warning light should turn off within a few minutes. If the warning light is
Figure 3: Locating the tire pressure sensor transmitter identification.
still on even though the tire pressure is correctly adjusted, the tire could be punctured. Repair as necessary. If the warning light turns on within several hours after adjusting the tire pressure, the tire may have a slow air leak. Repair as necessary. If the warning light is on or blinks after all above situations have been investigated, there is a malfunction in the TPMS. See service information.
TPMS RESET PROCEDURES NOTE: The system will need to be initialized when tires are replaced with tires of different pressures; tire pressure sensor and/or tire pressure monitor ECU are replaced. See “Initializing tire pressure monitoring system.”
When the tire pressure warning light does not go off, or when it comes on during driving, check tire pressure and adjust as necessary. The warning light should turn off within a few minutes.
INITIALIZING THE TPMS CAUTION: Set tire pressure within the specified range before initializing. Do not
Figure 4: An exploded view of the tire pressure sensor.
push the reset switch without adjusting tire inflation pressure of all four tires. Otherwise, the low tire pressure warning light may not come on even if the tire pressure is low, or it may come on when the tire inflation pressure is actually normal. If you push the reset switch while the vehicle is moving, initialization is not performed.
NOTE: When initializing the system, the current tire condition is stored as a standard. Perform the tire pressure adjustment after the vehicle has sufficiently cooled down. If it hasn’t sufficiently cooled, increase the air pressure in the tires approximately 3 psi to 4 psi (20-30 kPa).
NOTE: The initialization mode can be terminated by making a short circuit between terminals No. 4 and 13 of the DLC3 connector (located under left side of instrument panel).
During initialization, the tire pressure sensor measures the inflation pressure of the tires, and registers the signals that are transmitted into the tire pressure monitor ECU at a frequency of one per minute. The initialization process is completed when the signals from the four tires have been received. The initialization process is canceled if the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position prior to the completion of initialization. To restart initialization, the tire pressure warning reset switch must be pressed again. 1) Set the tire pressure of all wheels to the pressure specified on the tire and loading information label. 2) With the vehicle stopped and the parking brake applied, turn the ignition switch ON.
NOTE: Initialization is normally completed within five to six minutes. If initializa
Figure 5: Disengaging the bead using a tire remover.
tion has not been completed successfully, DTC C2177/77 is set after the vehicle is driven for 20 minutes or more. 3) Press and hold the tire pressure warning reset switch until the tire pressure warning light blinks three times at one-second intervals (see Figure 1). 4) Turn the ignition switch OFF. 5) Connect the Techstream to the DLC3. Turn the ignition switch ON, and turn the Techstream ON. 6) Enter the following menus: Chassis / Tire Pressure Monitor / Data List. 7) Confirm that the expected tire pressure data of all tires is displayed on the Techstream screen. Initialization can be terminated by connecting terminals 13 (TC) and 4 (CG) of the DLC3 (see Figure 2).
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR REGISTRATION NOTE: When a tire pressure sensor and/or tire pressure monitor ECU is replaced, the sensor ID must be memorized (registered) by the tire pressure monitor ECU prior to system initialization. To perform this procedure, a Toyota Techstream must be used. It is not necessary to register the sensor ID(s) when only tire rotation is performed.
NOTE: Before beginning the registration process on vehicles where tire pressure sensors have not been replaced, retrieve sensor transmitter ID(s) using Techstream or by reading the ID on the tire pressure sensor. If a sensor is being replaced with a new one, make a note of the eight-digit number (transmitter ID) before installa- tion, as it cannot be seen after the sensor is installed (see Figure 3).
Set the tire pressure of all the wheels to the pressure specified on the tire and loading information label. 2) With the ignition switch OFF, connect the Techstream to the DLC3. 3) Turn the ignition switch to ON .
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Figure 6: Installing the tire pressure sensor.
4) Enter the following menus: Chassis / Tire Pressure Monitor / Utility /ID Registration. NOTE: If this step is not completed within 300 seconds, registration mode will be canceled. 5) Perform the procedures displayed on the Techstream.
NOTE: It may take up to about five to six minutes to update the tire pressure data. If the values are not displayed after several minutes, perform troubleshooting according to the inspection procedure for DTCs C2121/21 to C2124/24. If the IDs have not been registered, DTC C2171/71 is set after three minutes or more. 6) Confirmation of transmitter ID registration: a) Enter the Techstream menu items in this order: Chassis / Tire Pressure Monitor / Data List. b) Confirm that the expected tire pressures of all tires are displayed on the screen.
DEMOUNTING/MOUNTING PROCEDURES CAUTION: The tire should be demounted from the wheel using the tire changer manufacturer’s instructions. Use the following information to avoid damage during the demounting/mounting procedures.
NOTE: The system will need to be initialized when tires are replaced with tires of different pressures and when the tire pressure sensor and/or the tire pressure monitor ECU is replaced.
NOTE: When a tire pressure sensor and/ or tire pressure monitor ECU is replaced, the sensor ID must be memorized (registered) by the tire pressure monitor ECU prior to system initialization. See “Reset procedures.”
NOTE: If the negative battery terminal is disconnected, initialize the following power systems after the terminal is reconnected: window control system, back door system, sliding door system and the moon roof. Refer to the owner’s manual or the appropriate manufacturer service information.
TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR CAUTION: The use of tire sealants is strictly prohibited for vehicles equipped with the TPMS. Tire sealants can clog tire pressure sensors.
CAUTION: Be sure to reinstall tire valve caps, or dirt or moisture could get into the valve core and cause air leakage. Use only the original valve cap. If any other valve cap is used, it may corrode or melt, and become extremely difficult to remove.
NOTE: The average life of the grommet of the tire pressure sensor is approximately five years, at which time it must be replaced. If the valve is leaking air, but it is less than five years old and the grommets are in good condition, retighten the valve nut to 35 in.-lbs. (4 N.m). Whenever the tires must be replaced, replace the grommets for the tire pressure sensors as well.
NOTE: If the tire pressure valve subassembly is going to be replaced, make a note of the eight-digit number (transmitter ID) before installation, as it cannot be seen after sensor is installed (see Figure 3). Whenever a new sensor is installed, it will need to be registered in the tire pressure monitor ECU.
Removal
1) When replacing a wheel or tire, the tire pressure sensors must be set up in one of the following ways: • Remove the sensor from the old wheel and install it in the new wheel. Keep the same wheel with the tire pressure sensor, and replace only the tire. • Use a new wheel and sensor (the new sensor must be registered after installation). 2) Remove the wheel. Remove the cap and valve core, and release air from the tire (see Figure 4).
NOTE: Keep the removed cap, valve core, nut and washer. 3) After ensuring that air is sufficiently released, remove the nut and washer that is used to hold the tire pressure sensor and drop the sensor inside the tire.
NOTE: Be careful not to damage the tire pressure sensor due to interference between the sensor and tire bead. 4) After dropping the tire pressure sensor into the tire, disengage the bead using the shoe of the tire remover (see Figure 5). 5) Remove the bead on the upper side following the usual procedure.
6) Take out the sensor from the tire, and remove the bead on the lower side following the usual procedure.
NOTE: Check that no cracks or damage are visible on the grommet. If so, replace the grommet together with the washer and nut. Always replace the grommet and washer when replacing the warning valve and transmitter. 7) Remove the inner grommet from the tire pressure sensor, or retrieve it from the wheel, if necessary.
NOTE: The tire pressure sensor is powered by a lithium battery. When the sensor is defective, remove the battery from the sensor and dispose of it properly.
Installation
1) Insert the tire pressure monitor valve into the valve installation hole. Insert from the inside of the rim so that the print surface can be seen (see Figure 3). Check for the following: • Check that there is no visible deformation, damage or other abnormalities on the transmitter. • Check that there is no foreign matter on the inner grommet and around the rim hole. • If installed in the reverse direction, the tire pressure monitor valve may be damaged or fail to transmit signals when running at high speed. • If installing a new tire pressure monitor valve, write down the ID number before installation (see Figure 3).
It is necessary to register an ID in the ECU after installation. 2) Install the washer on the tire pressure monitor valve from the rim side, and tighten the nut to 35 in.-lbs. (4 N.m). See Figure 6. Check for the following: • Ensure there is no foreign matter on the washer and nut. Always replace the grommet and washer when replacing the warning valve and transmitter. • Check that there is no oil, water or lubricant around the rim hole, tire pressure monitor valve, washer and nut. Failing to do so may result in improper installation.
CAUTION: If the sensor is positioned outside the specified area, it interferes with the tire bead, causing possible damage to the sensor. 3) Put the wheel on the mounting machine, and install the lower tire bead.
Position the main body of the sensor in the shaded area as shown in the illustration (see Figure 7).
Figure 7: Positioning the tire pressure sensor.
4) Making sure that the tire bead and tool do not interfere with the main body of the sensor and that the sensor is not clamped by the bead, install the upper bead and inflate the tire. 5) After the tire is inflated, the valve nut may be loose. Retighten the nut to the specified torque, and then check for air leaks with soapy water. 6) Install the tire and wheel assembly on the vehicle. 7) When a new sensor is installed, the ID code will need to be registered. See “Tire pressure sensor registration” under “Reset procedures.” 8) After completing the operation, remove the valve core to rapidly release the air in the tire. Ensure the tire pressure warning light comes on. If the warning light does not come on, refer to the appropriate manufacturer service information. Reinflate the tires. 9) If there is an air leakage, tighten the nut to a force of 35 in.-lbs. (4 N.m) and push the valve core two to three times to remove any dirt attached to the valve core. If air continues to leak, replace the grommet, washer and nut.
Information for this column comes from the tire pressure monitoring systems data in ProDemand®, Mitchell 1’s auto repair information software for domestic and import vehicles. Headquartered in Poway, Calif., Mitchell 1 has provided quality repair information solutions to the automotive industry since 1918. For more information, visit www.mitchell1.com. To read archived TPMS articles, visit www.moderntiredealer.com.
TPMS columns on demand
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) columns are presented in each issue of Modern Tire Dealer, courtesy of Mitchell 1. Here is a rundown of the columns in 2019/2018, available on www.moderntiredealer. com in the digital editions found at the bottom of our home page.
All of our TPMS columns are available on demand, covering well over 100 makes and models. Simply type in TPMS in the search bar.
January 2019 Honda HR-V, Model years 2016-2018
February 2019 Nissan Titan, 2004-2018
March 2018 Volkswagen: 2004-2006 Phaeton and 2004-2017 Touareg
April 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan 2011-2017
May 2018 Kia Sedona 2006-2014
June 2018 2007-2014 Mazda3 and Mazda2
July 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (204) – 2008-2015
August 2018 Chevrolet Cobalt 2008-2010, Pontiac G5 2008-2009, 2010 Pontiac G5(Canada) and Pontiac G6 2008-2010
September 2018 2011-2018 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX
October 2018 Volvo S-Series 2005-2015
November 2018 Toyota Corolla 2008-2018, and Corolla iM 2008-2017
December 2018 Fiat 500 Series 2012-2018
TBC unveils Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2
The new Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2 from TBC Brands comes in 43 passenger sizes for 15-inch to 22-inch wheels. The all-season touring tire replaces the LX and is available to tire dealers now. The LX2 is designed to provide enhanced ride comfort in a variety of road conditions. The LX2 has a 90,000-mile limited tread wear warranty for all T-rated sizes and 75,000-mile limited tread wear warranty for all H- and V-rated sizes. The warranty protection package also includes a 45-day free test drive, two-year 24/7 roadside assistance coverage, and free lifetime defect replacement. TBC Brands LLC www.tbcbrands.com
Dill has new digital tire inflator
The new 7260 digital tire inflator from Dill Air Control Products features a 2-foot kink-resistance, stainless steel hose and a large back-lit display. The 7260 includes an auto on/off feature, and each unit is assembled and tested in the U.S. Dill Air Controls Products provides the motorsports, automotive, RV, fleet, off-road and trucking industries with valve stems and hardware, tire inflation devices, TPMS and hand tools, notes the company. DILL AIR CONTROL PRODUCTS LLC www.dillaircontrols.com
New Meyle cabin filter protects against bacteria
The newest Meyle-Original cabin air filter is designed to protect against bacteria and help prevent the development of mold and fungi in addition to filtering out harmful gases, soot and pollen. Meyle AG says an additional filter layer enriched with silver ions provides the new MeyleOriginal cabin filter with an antibacterial function. The fungicidal effect of the silver ion layer also prevents the development of molds. The new cabin air filter consists of four layers that clean the air before it enters the vehicle interior. MEYLE AG www.meyle.com
Ingersoll Rand offers new torque limited impact wrench
The 2-inch anvil of the new 2135QTL-2 ½-inch torque limited impact wrench from Ingersoll Rand is designed to provide better access to recessed lug nuts, making it ideal for tire shops and service centers. The tool restricts forward torque from 55 to 75 foot-pounds, reducing the chance of damaging wheels without sacrificing reverse torque. Weighing just 4.3 pounds, the 2135QTL-2 is the ultimate torque wrench counterpart, according to the company. It delivers 780 foot-pounds of max reverse torque to remove stubborn lug nuts quickly and reaches target torque in two to three seconds. INGERSOLL RAND PLC www.ingersollrandproducts.com
New Wagner premium brake pad for passenger cars
Federal-Mogul Motorparts has added a premium brake pad for late-model passenger cars to its Wagner brand. The Wagner OEX Car line will launch with more than 100 SKUs and cover more than 90% of passenger car vehicles 2005 and newer, or more than 150,000,000 domestic and Asian vehicles in operation in North America. The premium Wagner OEX Car complements the Wagner OEX line, which is designed for SUVs, CUVs and pickups. Features of the Wagner OEX Car line include galvanized steel plates that provide corrosion resistance and fitment over paint and powder coatings. FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS www.wagnerbrake.com
Atlas Automotive Equipment introduces TreadReader
The new TreadReader handheld scan tool from Atlas Automotive Equipment is designed to provide an instant 3D image of a tire, providing data such as tread depth and adverse wear. The company says advisory information like misalignment or uneven wear due to under- or over-inflation is also displayed, presenting a “no-question” presentation to the user on the condition of the vehicle’s tires, and the recommended resolution. The unit requires just a few seconds to run over all four tires for instant upload to a smartphone or tablet via the TreadReader app. ATLAS AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT LLC www.atlasautoequipment.com
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ADVERTISER 31 Incorporated
Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Inc.
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AUTEL
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BKT USA Inc.
Blackburn OEM Wheel Solutions
DSP 20 Group
Federal Tire
General Tire
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Hamaton LTD.
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Synchrony Car Care
TBC Brands
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IBC
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IFC
OBC
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9
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