Tire registration: voluntary or mandatory? Readers respond

Sept. 4, 2015

Each month we ask members of our National Advisory Council (NAC) a question or questions on a current hot topic. This month we asked, “What are your thoughts on tire registration? Do you believe it should be made mandatory or remain voluntary?” Here are some of their responses.

  1. I believe tire registration should be voluntary, but the small guys will never do it.
  2. Primarily, we are concerned about the specific wording of any such legislation as it may require a return to mandatory tire registration. Wording in the current S. 1741 legislation skirts this issue and the language in the proposed bill, at least of this date, remains unclear.
  3. It should be voluntary and as easy as possible. Some of the top retailers do it for the consumer following a purchase — that’s a value added service! Any method to simplify it for the consumer is good.
  4. If there are proper tools to make it streamlined, I am not against making tire registration mandatory.
  5. I believe it should be mandatory.
  6. I feel the current voluntary registration of tires is fine.
  7. I would prefer to keep it voluntary, if for no other reason than we already have more than enough government regulations.

We also asked our NAC, “How do you pay your service techs? By the hour or by the job? And why do you prefer that method of compensation?” Here are a couple of responses.

  1. For those technicians who prefer to work slowly and methodically, employment in a flat-rate environment is usually not a good fit. When these same technicians possess a specialty to solve the elusive, difficult problems that plague some vehicles, flat-rate work can also hold little appeal. In truth, it’s a balancing act. On the other hand, when technicians can do a good job quickly and find a shop with ample work that requires their set of skills, they can thrive financially in a flat-rate or incentive environment.
  2. We pay our technicians by the job using a flat rate.

An association responds to tire registration legislation

Dear Editor,

It is the position of the North Carolina Tire Dealers Association to always protect and deliver critical information to the motoring public in the event of recalled tires. How this will be done is at question. It is our opinion, that (if) legislation is passed to move this away from consumers registering tires, we would recommend the solution of scanning the Tire Identification Number (TIN) to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Doing this would provide a continued connection of the tires to the vehicle, regardless of the vehicle changing ownership.

Bar code scanning would simplify the recording process, in addition to reducing human error of capturing eight to 12 numbers and letters. Uploading TIN-VIN keeps tires with the car and the information can go to a central location.

Tire manufacturers can provide the necessary applications needed in providing these changes if we move away from consumers registering their own tires as they currently do appliances, computers, car seats, etc.

Reece Hester, Executive Director

North Carolina Tire Dealers Association

Raleigh, N.C.

Join Modern Tire Dealer’s National Advisory Council

Each month, Modern Tire Dealer is guided and influenced by a select group of readers — members of our National Advisory Council. These members’ opinions are the heart of the monthly Your Marketplace column, compiled by industry analyst Nick Mitchell. If you’d like to join this prestigious group, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you. Contact Editor Bob Ulrich at [email protected] or call (330) 899-2200, ext. 11.

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The editors of MTD want to know what you are thinking. We rely on members of our National Advisory Council each month to track sales data (see Your marketplace on page 21), and to keep in touch with the hot topics that are affecting tire dealers. Our monthly survey gives you the chance to sound off. If you’d like to join this group, email [email protected]. You also can let us know your thoughts on subjects we write about online. See the “Post a Comment” box following each news item and article on this website. Simply fill in the blanks, write your comment and hit “Submit.” We want to hear from you!