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Alliance 590 targets ag, construction applications

The new Alliance 590 from Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America Inc. is a otation tire for ag and construction applications. The product features three layers of steel belts under a cut-resistant tread compound for extra protection; a non-directional tread pattern with heavy, deep blocks and open channels for optimal grip and selfcleaning; and more. Capable of speeds up to 40 mph, the Alliance 590 also can be operated at lower in ation levels to minimize soil compaction. It’s available in the following sizes: 560/60R22.5, 600/55R26.5, 650/55R26.5, 650/60R26.5, 600/60R30.5, 650/65R20.5, 710/50R30.5 and 750/60R30.5.

YOKOHAMA OFF-HIGHWAY TIRES AMERICA INC. www.yokohama-oht.com

ZC Rubber expands Arisun line

Zhongce Rubber Group Co. Ltd. (ZC Rubber) has added the TF01 and the TF11 (pictured) to its Arisun brand lawn and garden tire line. The Arisun TF01 has a non-directional tread pattern design, while the Arisun TF11 features an “S” pattern to deliver traction when traveling across a wide range of surfaces. The tread promises minimal turf damage and optimal handling for small mowers. Both tires are available in North America.

ZHONGCE RUBBER GROUP CO. LTD. www.zc-rubber.com Vipal offers new tread for urban applications

The new VM310 tread from Vipal Rubber Corp. has been designed for drive and trailer axle positions and urban applications. It features Vipal’s exclusive Eye Control Technology, which displays the level of wear and the suggested time for new retreading. It also offers rotational direction for optimal traction; tread blocks that promote torque distribution; sipes for enhanced grip in the snow; and more. The VM310 is 3-Peak Mountain Snow akecerti ed — the 16th Vipal tread to have earned that distinction.

VIPAL RUBBER CORP. www.vipal.com

Maxam beefs up industrial tire line

The new MS600 press-on solid is the latest addition to Maxam’s industrial tire line and features proprietary EcoPoint3 technology. The MS600 sports a ve-degree sidewall taper and a full and unique tread pro le for a larger footprint, giving it one of the widest tread widths in the industry, according to Maxam of cials. The new product line will be manufactured using a fully automated strip winding process, ensuring top quality and performance consistency, as well as the new EcoPoint3 mixing process, which allows for the MS600’s master batches to contain less ller, higher ratios of stress at elongation and minimum degrees of impurities, resulting in a more consistent compound.

MAXAM TIRE NORTH AMERICA www.maxamtire.com

ATEQ updates commercial TPMS tool

ATEQ TPMS Tools LC is adding a commercial truck tool, the VT Truck 2.0, to its lineup for the North American and European markets. The tool follows in the footsteps of the VT Truck tool and it arrives as ATEQ says commercial truck TPMS legislation becomes more prevalent in both North America and Europe. The ATEQ VT Truck 2.0 offers functionalities speci cally designed for the maintenance of trucks and buses and includes all-new OBD coverage. The tool features a sturdy and compact design and can read even twin wheels and 22-inch tire sizes. ATEQ says the device is compatible with most truck and bus TPMS sensors and can be updated to include new heavy transport vehicles as soon as they are introduced.

ATEQ TPMS TOOLS LC www.ateq-tpms.com Bridgestone adds new sizes to OTR snow tire

Bridgestone Americas Inc. has introduced the VSWAS 23.5R25 V-Steel Snow Wedge allseason tire, a size expansion to the Bridgestone OTR line of radial snow tires. The VSWAS 23.5R25 provides “excellent performance in deep snow, with a tread pattern that reduces stone holdings without the need for studs or chains,” say Bridgestone of cials. The VSWAS 23.5R25 also is designed for year-round use. Key innovations to the VSWAS 23.5R25 include a deep siping design for extra capability in snow, gravel and soft sandy conditions; a special tread design; and a cut-resistant compound to reduce cutting, chipping and puncturing of the tire. The 23.5R25 is an enhancement to the current Bridgestone VSWAS line of OTR radial snow tires.

BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS INC. www.bridgestone.com

Is the proposition you’re selling worth buying?

TO ATTRACT TOP TALENT, LOOK BEYOND THE BASICS

By Randy O’Connor

Arguably the most discussed topic of the past couple of years has been the job market. We’ve all felt job market pressures in one form or another — some less than others. e question usually comes to me in the form of “How do I nd more help?” or “What’s the secret to nding employees these days?” ese questions have been a part of almost every conversation I’ve had with tire dealers for quite some time.

If you’re fortunate enough to be a member of a professional, peer-to-peer group like MTD TEN (Training and Education Network), you likely have met a few dealers who might be outperforming some others. Why is that? Why do some dealers have extremely low attrition, while others struggle to simply avoid turning away business?

It’s no secret that our industry runs a few years behind advancements in other industries. Whether it’s marketing tools like trigger-and-drip campaigns or customer experience tools like text-to-pay, we have been behind other industries for as long as I can remember.

While we can certainly succeed without having the latest and greatest tools to help improve the customer experience, we certainly cannot succeed without having a scholarly, tuned-in perspective on the job market.

We all agree that our team members are the most important part of our businesses, yet we o en fall short of keeping up with advancements in the job market.

Like it or not, our industry has never provided the most team member-centric environment. Add a snowballing lack of participation in the trades, a pandemic, some government nancial support that has incentivized people to sit out of the job market and a large push by employees for a heightened work-life balance and you have a recipe for disaster.

What if the standard questions of “How do I nd more help?” and “What’s the secret to nding employees these days?” were ipped? Ask instead, “How does more help nd me?” and “What’s the secret to nding the best employers these days?” is ips the script from you nding new team members to employees nding you. Isn’t that really how it goes — or at least how it should?

Team members who aren’t given the opportunity to exercise their strengths look elsewhere.

e best are sought out rather than snubbed. And industry veterans — as well as prospective “best-in-class” team members — know where the best employers are and will seek them out. If you’re truly team member-centric, you’re getting o ers, not making them. e good news here is you get to take your recruiter hat o and put your sales hat back on. Now you simply work hard to sell your dealership’s “value proposition” to prospective employees.

So what does a valuable employee proposition look like? Pay and bene ts top the sentiments. e good news is we have very short sales cycles and we should be paying on a production or commission basis.

As long as you’re realistic with your annual forecasts and budgets — and you’ve set your individual pay plans to meet those budgets — with the right tools and support, your gross line will grow as your employees strive to meet their personal income goals. e bene t side of that equation is a bit more di cult to solve. at said, there are all sorts of bene t strategies that provide added value.

Second to pay and bene ts is a greater work-life balance — or should we say life-work balance? e past couple of years have been taxing on employees, with a large percentage feeling stressed, overwhelmed and burned out.

Set burnout aside and you still have a very large increase in exibility via remote work. While most of your teams need to be at the shop, that doesn’t mean that your scheduling can’t be more exible. Consider shorter work weeks for those who work Friday and Saturday. Getting creative with life-work exibility is a must.

Right behind life-work balance is the desire of employees to do what they like and are good at. Team members who aren’t given the opportunity to exercise their strengths look elsewhere.

Having a well-designed team member advancement and performance review strategy puts all the cards on the table. With such a system, team members will understand how to go from X to Y and more importantly, what it means to them personally.

Next, employees look for stability. is is especially true as our industry reshapes itself. Finally, today’s workforce desires diversity and inclusion. is is likely the biggest change in recent years. Creating more equitable, inclusive environments is viewed as societal progress and should be a very high priority in your annual goals. Keep in mind this takes much more than just a commitment. Your team member experience and your brand must re ect your commitment.

Ultimately, while pay is likely top of mind with employees, it no longer trumps all else. Is the total employee value proposition you’re selling worth buying? ■

Tire and auto industry veteran Randy O’Connor is the executive director TEN (Training and Education Network). He can be reached at roconnor@10missions. com. For more information, see www.mtdten.com.