Wheels
Outlaw Wheels are hitting the trail this spring, with two new designs joining the brand’s 10-wheel line-up. Drawing heavily on Western imagery with a high-octane, scarlet-clad cowgirl fronting the ad and merchandising campaign, Outlaw is aiming to be one of the most sought-after wheel brands of 2006.
The alloy wheel aftermarket in the UK has seen a number of changes over the past decade many of which are continuing today. If we go back 10 years, the majority of the wheels sold were sold by tyre dealers. Admittedly, not every tyre dealer felt comfortable selling alloys and many shied away from what they perceived as potential technical problems, but for those who did, it was a nice little earner. The market potential was not lost on the Auto Accessory stores and they began to make inroads.
What was worse from the tyre dealers’ viewpoint was that the Auto Accessory stores more often than not offered a wheel and tyre package, so not only was the tyre dealer losing the wheel sale, but the tyre sale as well. One of the people who supplied information for this article – and I pass on my thanks to those who contributed, whether they asked remain anonymous or not – estimated that nine out of 10 Auto Accessory store sales were wheel and tyre packages, with customers either fitting the wheels themselves, or going to local garages for fitment. Apart from the loss of business for tyre shops, fitting tyres at home offers potential for incorrect fitments, wrong sizes and so on.
So far 50 per cent of those who answered Tyres & Accessories’ question of the month say they are simply too busy to sell wheels. This month’s question asks readers about their preferences when it comes to selling alloy wheels. Do you sell them or are you busy enough moving tyres to worry about the extra expense and hassle of selling wheels? The next 30 per cent of respondents said they order-in wheels as and when. Only 20 per cent say they actively try to sell wheels.
The majority may have said they do not have time for wheels, but the strongest comments came from those who order-in wheels. “I do not believe that there is one tyre dealer nowadays that has no time to sell alloy wheels. Albeit selling alloy wheels through a regular tyre shop would not provide millionaire success,” one reader told T&A. Keep your answers and comments coming (please include your name and contact details) clicking here.. The complete results and report will be published in the April magazine’s wheel report.
(Akron/Tire Review) TRIB will hold its “Pump ‘Em, Don’t Thump ‘Em” contest at its booth at the upcoming Mid-America Trucking Show, set for next week in Louisville, Kentucky. The Mid-America Trucking Show is the trucking industry’s largest national event, and draws manufacturers, marketers and thousands of drivers each year.
The Pump ‘Em, Don’t Thump ‘Em contest, co-sponsored by ArvinMeritor, will be held Friday, 24 March at 10:30 am in Booth 6973 in the West Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center.
(Akron/Tire Review) Union workers at Accuride’s steel wheel plant in London, Ontario, overwhelmingly approved a new contract with the manufacturer. The three-year deal between Accuride and the 550 Canadian Auto Workers (CAW)-represented workers was reached 11 March and includes a base rate wage increase of 2 per cent. The Accuride plant produces steel passenger and commercial truck wheels
Superior Industries International, Inc has announced that it has awarded new contracts from General Motors to supply large-diameter aluminum wheels for passenger vehicles and SUVs. The programmes are said to represent a combination of new and replacement business.
The new James Bond movie, Casino Royale, is eagerly-awaited by fans keen to check out the stunts, the Bond girls and of course to see how Daniel Craig handles himself as the new James Bond. However, for a number in the audience, it will, once again be the hero’s choice of car that catches the eye. It’s an obsession that Richard Stewart Williams understands.
Richard just loves Aston Martins – in fact, there’s nothing he doesn’t know about them. He began work as an Aston Martin apprentice and for over thirty years has run his own highly successful company, Richard Stewart Williams Ltd in Cobham, Surrey, where his team service, sell and race the iconic cars.
Sin Hup Huat Company (SHH Co.). has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nankang Rubber Tyres Corporation Taiwan, for SHH Co to exclusively market and sell Nankang’s full range of tyres for Brunei.
The tyre distribution deal will be supported by further contracts that SHH managing director Steven Kuan signed with Brunei’s Hyundai dealer Setia Motors Sdn. Bhd. This makes SHH Co. the preferred service provider for tyres, wheel services and roadside assistance for Setia Motors Sdn. Bhd. SHH simultaneously sealed a deal with 24/7 Roadside Assist, represented by its managing director Mark Adams. 24/7 Roadside Assist will join forces with SHH Co. as its official affiliate service partner and retail outlet for roadside assistance service and preferred workshop.
Having been established for almost 45 years within various sectors of the automotive industry, Sussex based, Elite Garages has now opened a Motorsport Tyre division within the wholesale operation based in Mannings Heath, Horsham.
Managing director Richard Whittemore commented: “With the increased number of people taking their cars on track to explore their performance limits, we felt it necessary to open a specialist division to offer sales support and technical information for these customers”. At the beginning of 2005, this idea became a reality under the watchful eye of Dave Blackley, who has over 10 years experience in the tyre industry with Elite Garages.
High fuel and tyre bills can contribute to forcing hauliers out of business. Yet both these outgoings can be slashed dramatically by paying more attention to the subject of wheel and axle alignment.
The claim is far from new, but in spite of considerable publicity in the 90s it is surprising how few haulage operators put in place a preventative alignment programme. With fuel prices in excess of 90p/litre, and tyre prices going up by 20 per cent last year alone, it may now be worth considering this oprtion.
TOYO’s approach to the still growing SUV and 4×4 market is a simple one. Maintaining the connection between tyre and driver, even when the going gets tough. This ethos can be seen across the range, from the speed capability of double World Record setting Proxes S/T to the all reaching ability of the Open Country and Tranpath ranges. And many leading manufacturers give Toyo credit when it comes to OE fitments. Both the Toyota Rav 4 and Nissan X-Trail roll out of the factory on Tranpath TAA Tyres.
(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s Mickey Thompson brand division has hired Carl Robinson to the new position of wheel product manager. Robinson had been Weld Wheel Industries Inc.’s director of motorsports and president of Race Wheel Enterprises Inc. in Dania, Fla. Robinson has also helped develop various testing devices for wheel and tire assemblies and is a past member of the S.F.I. Wheel Certification Committee, Cooper said.
We hear so much about overcapacity in the tyre industry, with too many tyres chasing too few wheels, but this is not the case in all sectors and certainly not in the OTR/Earthmover tyre market, where words and phrases such as “crisis” and “global shortage” are freely bandied about.
Reports suggest that there is little prospect of improvement in the short to medium-term, with the entire global OTR tyre production for at least the next couple of years having already been sold. One prediction, from the UK’s OTR Tyres, forecasts that demand will exceed supply through to 2010.
Japanese premium wheel brand, Kosei is to be exclusively marketed in the UK by Sherbrook International. The Kosei name will join the existing brands in Sherbrook’s portfolio, which includes Rondell, Outlaw and DJ. The Kosei brand will be available in sizes of up to 22 inches.
“Kosei is an established worldwide brand with a unique position in the top segment of the market,” said Sherbrook International CEO Peter Whitehouse. “The wheels are incredibly stylish, fashionable and of the moment. The appeal of Kosei is individual and exclusive and we are delighted to add it to our product portfolio.”
Yokohama HPT was instrumental in stunt driver Terry Grant’s success in claiming two new World Records at last month’s Autosport International show. Grant chose Yokohama tyres and TSW alloy wheels for the cars he used to shatter the existing records for performing donuts.
As Grant was the previous record holder, he was aiming to smash own achievement for the number of cars performing donuts simultaneously by a single driver. The technique involved setting one car donutting, locking the throttle and steering, leaving the spinning car, getting into another car and repeating the process. Terry’s previous record was for three cars but he went one better to set the record with four cars concurrently donutting, to rapturous applause from the audience in the show’s Live Action Arena.
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