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December 20, 2011

A time of heartfelt reflection  

As another year comes to an end, it seems only natural to reflect on the last 12 months. Reflection on past mistakes, like constructive criticism, is always good, in my opinion. At the very least, it allows past mistakes to become life lessons.

Tags: ARA, Bob Ulrich, Ed Wagner, Editorial, Jerry White

November 1, 2011

Are tire prices too high? I say yes  

With apologies to Bob Barker and Drew Carey, the Price is Wrong, not Right. I’m referring to consumer tire prices, which have been increasing rapidly, and regularly, for the last four years.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, tire prices

Comments(12)

October 19, 2011

New fuel efficiency mandates will kill some of the tire competition  

Don’t expect any new players in the replacement truck and bus tire market anytime soon. The United States government doesn’t seem to want them.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, CAFE standards, Editorial, EPA, Going green

September 28, 2011

Getting down to business  

Is there anything that separates a Tire Dealer of the Year from the average dealer? Just what is it that makes him or her so special?

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, MTD TIre Dealer of the Year, Tire Dealer of the Year

July 29, 2011

Tire labeling is a done deal  

Did you know that our government has been working on a consumer tire rolling resistance label for almost 20 years?! In 1993, the White House Conference on Global Climate Change discussed tire labeling and asked the Department of Transportation to do something about it.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, Tire aging, Tire labeling

June 28, 2011

Don't arbitrarily dismiss LinkedIn  

Germano Julio Badi requested to add you as a connection on Linked-In,” read the e-mail request. The name sounded familiar, and he wanted to add me to his professional network.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, LinkedIn

May 2, 2011

Brand awareness may be overrated  

Eighty-five percent of tire purchasers are directly influenced by you.” Those 11 words packed as much punch as anything else said at the 2011 Goodyear Dealer Conference in January.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Brand awareness, Editorial

February 15, 2011

Is Tire Rack your competition?  

The Tire Rack is an independent tire dealership. Its business model may be different from yours, but the owners have complete control over it.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, The Tire Rack

Comments(2)

November 3, 2010

My beliefs, not make-believe  

Believe it or not, I have been editor of Modern Tire Dealer for 10 years! Between my editorials and Web blogs, you probably know more about me than you ever dreamed, or feared, possible.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial

October 1, 2010

The tariff effect, one year later  

There is ongoing debate about what effect the one-year-old, 35% tariff on Chinese consumer tire imports has had on the economy in general and pricing in particular. At first glance, the United States-China Business Council Inc. (USCBC) suggests it was an overreaction to the considerable growth in Chinese imports, especially “low-end” tires.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Chinese tires, Editorial, Tariff

September 15, 2010

The myth behind using retreads on steer axles  

No bus shall be operated with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on the front wheels.” Other than the redundancy of including “retreaded” and “recapped” in the same sentence, Title 49, Part 393.75 (d) of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations is quite clear.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, retreaded tires, retreads, Steer tires

Comments(1)

August 16, 2010

Why numbers can be deceiving  

Numbers, by themselves, don’t lie. They can be misleading, however, if not put in the proper context.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial

July 26, 2010

Chinese media: fair and balanced?  

China is a communist country, with one ruling party. At the same time, it seems to be embracing capitalism to the best of its manufacturing ability.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, China, Editorial

June 21, 2010

Good-better-best never changes  

John F. Kennedy was president of the United States. The National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association was preparing for its 40th annual convention. I turned three years old.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial

May 19, 2010

New name, new focus, new identity  

What in the world is the Global Tire Expo — powered by TIA? We know it will be held with the Specialty Equipment Market Association, or SEMA, Show during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week in Las Vegas, Nev., in November.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial

April 16, 2010

Fill-rate problems  

The recession last year helped curtail demand. As a result, tire manufacturers reduced their inventories to historically low levels.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial

January 21, 2010

A new year, with new possibilities  

As we try to climb out of the recession, both physically and mentally, I want to focus on the positive signs that 2010 will be better than 2009.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, Tire sales

November 19, 2009

Grading the union  

No union has been in the news of late more than the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union. You know them as the United Steelworkers (USW).

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Chinese tire imports, Editorial, USW

September 10, 2009

The consequences of bad (or no) service  

What are the consequences of bad service? We are told that dissatisfied customers are more vocal than satisfied customers, but how great is the damage, really?

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, Service

July 23, 2009

Revisiting the past, with an eye on the future  

One hundred editorials. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been editor of Modern Tire Dealer since July of 2000. With 100 editorials under my belt, I thought I’d revisit some of them, for better or worse.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, CEC, Editorial, Right to Repair, Tire aging

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