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Wheel Alignment

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Don’t Forget to Check Your Tyres, Says Firestone

While tyres are one of the most important components of a vehicle, they’re also one of the most overlooked. In the US, according to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than one in four passenger vehicles and light trucks are driving with at least one significantly under-inflated tyre. As National Tire Safety Week is just around the corner in the US – this year it is being held between June 7 and 13 – Firestone Complete Auto Care recommends motorists follow the following maintenance tips to keep tyres in tip-top shape:

29th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pro-Align: Hunter HawkEye ‘Special’ is a Real Bargain

With the recession biting and more of the aftermarket looking to wheel alignment servicing to generate revenue and increase profit margins, Pro-Align is its new Hunter HawkEye ‘Special’ alignment system at an economical price. The idea is to increase access to premium quality products by offering an entry-level model at a competitive price.

The HawkEye Special is very similar to the Hunter HawkEye 100 model, with the only real difference being it uses a two camera system instead of the four camera system of its sibling. The camera lift system offers versatility enabling the HawkEye Special to operate at variable adjustment height. With the console mounted on the main column, the system remains compact, offering great space savings in the workshop whilst not compromising on quality and accuracy of alignment readings as well as offering the valuable ‘before’ and ‘after’ colour customer printouts. According to the Hunter HawkEye imaging provides low cost of ownership through the use of its polycarbonate HEX targets and the cameras being mounted out of harms way.

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Corghi Sees the Blue Light

In the motor vehicle workshop equipment segment, Corghi reports that it is responding to today’s global economical crisis by investing in product innovation, infrastructure and new commercial facilities. The company says that it is committed to constant research in innovative solutions to meet the demands of an increasingly discerning market, an aim that the brand hopes to address through its participation in the Autopromotec show, where it will display a wide range of its newest products.

For the wheel balancer segment, Corghi presents Blue Light, a sophisticated wheel balancing machine developed in response to the needs of the upper end of the market. This high-tech system includes touch screen, real time, blue light and touchless technologies, which aim to simplify significantly the operator’s job.

2nd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Supertracker Aims for “Moderate Budget” Wheel Alignment

Following what the company says was “a very successful 2008,” wheel alignment manufacturer Supertracker reports that it has maintained a good sales performance in the first quarter of this year. Recommending that garage and fast fit operators make wheel alignment an integral part of every customer visit, Supertracker is attempting to back up its assertion with a wide range of competitively-priced wheel alignment equipment ranges, making its systems available to as wide a portion of the market as possible.

Managing director Trevor Lovesy is aware of the need to reduce costs in the current fiscal climate: “Obviously the significant downturn in business has affected all market sectors – including the garage equipment market – with many companies looking to minimise business expenditure as much as possible. Fortunately because the Supertracker range is more reasonably priced than other wheel alignment equipment on the market we have not seen any reduction of interest for our products.”

2nd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyres & Accessories April 2009

In addition to all the latest news and analysis, April's issue of Tyres & Accesories contains features on Private Brands and Wheel Alignment, as well as our annual in-depth Wheel Report.

1st April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

John Bean Rolls Out Price Reduction on V3D Lite

John Bean, a brand within Snap-on Equipment, announced its price reduction on the popular V3D Lite to £7,995 (excluding VAT). The reduced price is available on machines ordered before July 2009 and includes a two-year warranty.

Chris Behan, general manager of Snap-on Equipment, states that the company hopes to attract more converts to the system’s 3D alignment operation: “Reducing the price of the successful John Bean V3D Lite enables more workshops to leave their old laser aligners behind and step into the world of fast and accurate 3D wheel alignment. The current economic climate means that garages need to maximise profit opportunities and V3D Lite enables them to gain a new or improved revenue stream alongside their core business.”

25th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Uniroyal’s RainExpert Delivers Improved Safety & Wear

Over the years, Uniroyal has developed a strength in the area of wet weather tyres, so it is hardly then surprising that its latest product has been named the RainExpert. The new range for super-mini, compact and medium cars covers 78 sizes between 13 and 16-inches – some 96.5 per cent of the European compact and high performance segment. The first 43 sizes were released in January, and a May launch is planned for the remaining 35 sizes.

6th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

In Tyres & Accessories, April 2009:
Private Brands
Wheel Report
Wheel Alignment

Private Business

The opportunity to exclusively offer a range of tyres is very attractive, and gives a business a point of difference between it and the competitor around the corner. The UK is reported to have one of the most active private brand markets in the world, with new labels regularly added to the healthy range currently available. A good private brand in the portfolio can make noticeable difference to a company’s sales figures – just one reason to include April’s Private Brands feature on your monthly must-read list.

At the Centre of Things

It takes more than a tyre to make a wheel, and without that metal bit in the middle we’d be left with a rubber circle flopping about on the road. Thank goodness then for rims, the oft-overlooked partner to the tyre. The April edition of Tyres & Accessories puts the centre part of the wheel on centre stage: See next month’s Wheel Report for the latest product and industry news.

No Deviation Allowed

If you’ve ever strayed from the straight and narrow, gone off the beaten track or exhibited divergent characteristics, don’t spend too much time in soul searching – it was probably just your vehicle’s wheel alignment. While the Department for Transport attributes only around 4 per cent of MOT failures to steering defects, undetected wheel alignment issues are much more frequent and are a key cause of premature tyre wear. Next month’s Wheel Alignment feature will help you stay trim and true with all things alignment-related.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres Owned Zimbabwean Fast Fit, Retreader Restructures

Zimbabwe’s National Tyre Services (NTS) is in the process of finalising a strategic restructuring exercise to rationalise its operations. Dunlop Group (Dunlop Zimbabwe, owned by Apollo Tyres, is a major shareholder in NTS) managing director Kennedy Mandevani, recently appointed to oversee operations at the distributor and retreader, said the exercise would also increase the company’s operational efficiencies.

“Given the trading environment, the exercise brings NTS and Dunlop Zimbabwe closer to each other in order to deliver increased synergistic benefits to all stakeholders,” Mandevani said. “The right-sizing and restructuring will see a more flexible and customer focused entity poised to take advantage of current and future opportunities.” Mr. Mandevani added that NTS has maintained a strong presence in key geographical locations in order to maintain its market share.

27th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Beissbarth UK Introduces Automatic Wheel Washer

Beissbarth UK is introducing a new easy use Drester W-750 fully automatic wheel washer to their range which cleans in approximately 30 seconds. Additionally, the company showcased its new hope for the future of wheel alignment, the Easy 3D, at the Automechanika Show. Beissbarth believes that the machine will save workshop space, requiring little room in which to work and easy storage capabilities.

The Drester wheel washer gives wheels a low environmental impact wash that aspires to generating a show-room sparkle. The company claims that the relatively short payback time on the machine can also have a similar effect on the balance sheet, boosting profits in a comparatively short space of time.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Haweka Opens Gloucestershire Educational Unit

Haweka (UK) Ltd, one of the world’s leading independent manufacturers of wheel alignment and balancing solutions, announced on 10 November the opening of a specialist Wheel Alignment Training Centre in Gloucestershire, UK. The brand new facilities contain a state-of-the-art commercial vehicle MOT bay, lecture room and communal area. Haweka believes that the educational facility will help garage workers to speed up significantly the process of alignment and balancing. It is designed to provide a platform for the company to train UK commercial workshop technicians on the next generation of Haweka’s wheel alignment systems, the TA-20.

Located at Richard Read Transport’s Longhope depot, the new training centre gives Haweka the resources to keep offering tailor-made courses to customers nationwide. The lecture room contains the modern facilities needed to communicate the theoretical side of wheel alignment and how to provide optimal logistical angles, reducing tyre wear and fuel consumption to customers. The communal area is spacious and comfortable allowing course attendees to discuss the theory between themselves and relax during breaks. It overlooks one of two workshops where the practical training sessions will take place.

16th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Snap-on Equipment Brands Unveil Redesigns

John Bean and Hofmann, brands within Snap-on Equipment, have unveiled their new cabinet designs and equipment overhauls for the company’s ranges of wheel aligners, balancers and tyre changers. Hofmann has redesigned its high specification monty 3300 racing tyre changer, in order to allow it to handle run-flat and ultra high profile (UHP) tyres, while the John Bean range of aligners now features ergonomically designed cabinet fittings.

2nd December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Precision Point Launches Wheel Alignment Models

Precision Point, the Warwick, UK-based engineering company, will launch two new wheel alignment gauges at the fast-approaching Autosport International Aftermarket Show. The Trak-Rite PPL40+ is a remodel of the company’s successful PPL40 gauge, while the Trak-Rite 2 is an all new alignment tool; the latest in the range of competitively priced wheel alignment gauges. Precision Point is the established name behind innovative wheel alignment equipment widely used across the motorsport and automotive industries by both professional teams and amateurs alike.

Both models use a laser beam system to verify wheel alignment to an accuracy of five minutes within a measuring range of plus or minus two degrees and they are battery powered making them portable and user-friendly. The British-made products are precision engineered, robust and accurate and are suitable for a range of vehicles with 10” to 24” diameter wheels.

21st November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Universal Opens New Branches

Universal Tyres Autocentres Ltd has opened a new retail branch in Thurrock (680 London Road, West Thurrock, RM20 3LX) and redeveloped its Greenwich outlet on Blackwall Lane, Greenwich. The new Thurrock store is directly opposite West Thurrock’s famous QEII bridge and is a purpose built autocare facility, employing three fitters.

Store manager Kevin McGill, revealed the secret to the company’s success: “We are a small, but highly skilled team here at universal. Between us we have over 35 years experience in the automotive trade. We have built up an exhaustive knowledge of autocare and in addition we each have a number of specialist skills which means we can provide a fully comprehensive service to all our customers – whatever their requirements.”

23rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Machine Makes Headlight Testing Easier, Reports Beissbarth

Traditionally, headlights have been an area of low priority for the motoring public, noticed only when the bulb has failed. All too frequently at night or during poor visibility daytime conditions, the ‘motorcycle’ travelling behind or coming the other way turns out to be a car with only one working headlight, a potentially dangerous illusion. Other headlights, instead of illuminating the road, light up the night’s sky or blind oncoming motorists.

Headlights are a matter of great safety interest and consumer awareness could definitely be higher in this area. In this spirit, Beissbarth has issued garages and fast fit outlets a challenge – why not include headlights as part of your sales package? Make it a popular sales topic, it says. It could be just the item in a company’s sales performance that shows it to be innovative, and helps to create a point of difference between it and others in the fast fit or repair business. After all, Beissbarth adds, businesses offer tyres, wheel alignment, wheel balancing, tyre repairs, brakes and possibly also diagnostics – but headlight services? For many the answer will be ‘no – never thought about it.’

16th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors