Tuesday, January 30, 2024
THE STEEL WHEELS ARE STILL POPULAR
The cold season is approaching fast and it's time to think about winter tires.
Although winter tires are mandatory in Quebec, getting an extra set of wheels is not. However, there is no doubt that buying them will generate long-term savings for the vehicle owner.
For the last 10 years, the popularity of aluminum wheels has been growing every year. In percentage terms, aluminum is gaining ground over steel wheels, but the number of steel wheels sold is increasing year after year. This is a good indication that having a set of winter wheels and tires is well anchored in the morals of Quebecers. This reality is also gaining ground across Canada.
But what to sell to users? There are two mentalities, that of making the biggest possible bill to your customer, and that of suggesting to him what he really needs. What's yours?
The easiest way to explain to users the savings associated with the purchase of winter wheels is to compare the cost of mounting and removing tires in the fall and spring. Also, it is to explain that by purchasing a winter wheel kit, you preserve the beauty and performance of your original wheels for the summer.
The cost of steel wheels is much easier to justify than the cost of buying aluminum wheels. First of all, aluminum wheels are more expensive, assembly and balancing are more expensive, and repair costs for breakage and scratches are more expensive than steel wheels. Also aluminum wheels represent a high risk for scarcity for replacement when needed, since this type of wheel follows the modes that change regularly. It will also be necessary to calculate the cost of a hardware kit that includes centering rings, Tuner bolts, the key for the bolts, anti-theft locks and chrome valves.
It is certain that the customer who bets on beauty or aesthetics for his vehicle, will invest in aluminum wheels. On the other hand, the customer who is going to buy winter wheels for the practical side, should buy steel wheels for the following reasons
The acquisition cost is lower. Assembly and disassembly costs are generally lower. It costs less for replacement if necessary. There is less risk that the model is obsolete. Fewer installation problems since there is no installation of centering rings or tuner-type bolts. Steel wheels are easily repairable unlike aluminum wheels.
Also with the sale of steel wheels, you have the possibility to offer to your customers hubcaps that will cover, protect and improve the aesthetic side of your steel wheels.
Winter conditions are conducive to collisions on sidewalks, potholes, and products used on roads for grip are very harmful to the wheels. Replacement costs for steel wheels are far less expensive than aluminum wheels and they are much more susceptible to corrosion than good quality steel wheels.
In short, the customer needs honest and informed advice. The expertise of the technical adviser will play an important role in the user's decision. The big bill or the right advice? Which type are you?
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
ARE YOU A REAL WHEEL SPECIALIST ?
Winter is slowly but surely approaching and winter tire season is upon us.
When we think of winter tires we also think of "WINTER WHEELS". Winter wheels are great opportunities to add value to tire sales for tire specialists, mechanical shops, car dealerships, new and used auto parts stores and more.
However, history makes it seem that everyone becomes a tire and wheel specialist during this period. As far as tires are concerned, the required sizes are easily identifiable and are generally offered according to the manufacturer's specifications. Only the brands and models remain to be advised to users according to their specific needs or according to the brands or models that dealers have to promote.
On the other hand, it is when it is time to promote or advise customers which wheels to use for their needs that it often goes to waste. I don't want to generalize because there are professionals who advise their clients very well and who are aware of offering the right options. On the other hand, there are some who will sell anything to their clients saying that the wheels will do the job. Thinking this way is like saying that if the customer's vehicle is on the 16", any size 16" tire will do the job.
Vehicles are becoming more and more sensitive to components that do not conform to the original specifications. The wheels offered must also conform to the vehicles. Width, weight, offset, bolt holes, center size are all very important elements for users to be safe with their vehicles. Horror stories of wheel loss, skidding and tire friction on vehicle components are mostly caused by the fact that the wheels installed do not conform to the vehicle. Just because the customer needs 16" wheels with a 114.3mm mounting does not mean that all wheels with these specifications will fit the vehicles that require these specifications. As mentioned previously, other factors come into play.
It is really best to use the application guides offered by reputable, reputable and experienced wheel dealers. By following their recommendations you will ensure that customers will be safe and that the wheels are suitable for the desired applications. Too many "pseudo-specialists" only want to liquidate inventories, sell used wheels from other applications, or wheels of questionable quality that they bought at a low price to make the most profit possible.
The wheels are the link between your vehicle and the tires that are the link to the ground. We're talking about safety here. The job of a ''REAL SPECIALIST'' is to properly advise his customers and make sure they will be safe. ''The right wheel, in the right place'' Have a professional conscience.
ARE YOU A REAL WHEEL SPECIALIST? OR A ''BOB GRATTON''?
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
"MY TIRES ARE OUT OF BALANCE."
Not so sure !
A customer that you served comes back a few hours after he was served by you and says to you with a frustrated look on his face; ''You misbalanced my tires. I feel a vibration when I drive".
This has certainly happened at every tire service center before. When this happens, you have to consider that the customer is standing in front of you, unhappy, and wants the service center to fix the problem right away. Of course, you make room for them immediately because you don't want to alarm other customers waiting and you want to fix the problem first and foremost.
Often we take it for granted that the technician who did the mounting and balancing of the tires and wheels did not do his job properly. Yet he tells you that when he did the steps all went well and the assemblies seemed perfectly balanced. So we undo the tires and redo the procedure or at least you recheck the balancing results. After doing the job again, everything looks good. We put the wheels and tires back on the vehicle and take a walk to test the ride comfort. Unfortunately, there is still some vibration.
But what's the problem? You've done everything right. What else can you do?
Have you checked the nuts or bolts?
In most cases, that's where the problem lies. Choosing or replacing bolts is the most overlooked thing at service centers. As a specialist, it is your duty to verify that the bolts with which you install the wheels are perfectly compatible with the vehicle and especially with the wheels.
The best example is when you remove wheels on a vehicle model that originally used ball seat bolts. You sell them steel or aluminum winter wheels and reuse the bolts that were on the vehicle. Unless you sold them OEM type wheels with a ball nut seat, the wheels are often with a cone seat / taper.
The wheel seat and the ball nut will not fit together perfectly and the assembly will not be perfect. No matter how much time and precision you put into mounting and balancing, if the technician reinstalls the original bolts on a wheel that is not, you will not get good results.
The reasons are often that the customer simply doesn't want to pay for new bolts, or the technician hasn't talked to the customer because he's afraid the customer will change his mind and decide not to buy the wheels he offered. The other reason, which is often the real reason, is that the shop doesn't have the nuts or bolts in stock and it would take too long to order them or go and get them from a specialized distributor. You don't believe me? That's what happens regularly. I can tell you that in my 38 year career in the wheel business, there are at least 85% of the cases where I have been on site to check if the problem was either wheels or tires, and the problem was found to be installation or incompatible nuts or bolts.
The causes of vibration mentioned below, are the most common:
Wrong nuts or bolts for new wheels.
Improper mounting on vehicles when the center of the wheels is oversized (Multi-Application Wheel).
Core machined wheels (open wheels) that are balanced by the center but centered on the vehicle by the bolts.
Little advice :
In order to avoid the majority of these problems that take time, take away a lot of your profits and affect your credibility, be honest with your customers and let them know if they need to change the nuts or bolts on their vehicle. This will save you time, money, and your customer may be much happier.
So in conclusion, make sure that the hardware used to install your customer's wheel and tire assemblies is the right one.
That's what being a real specialist is all about!
Spherical Bolt Conical Nut Spherical Nut Conical Nut Bolt
Monday, January 22, 2024
WINTER IS HERE! HERE'S HOW TO STORE YOUR SUMMER WHEELS AND TIRES
The cold season is back, and your car will have to be fitted with winter tires by December 1st.
When removing summer tires, car owners must manage the storage of tires and wheels they are not using. How and where do we store them?
The easiest solution is to pay a garage or specialty warehouse who offers a storage service, which will cost you $ 30-50 for a six-month period. These places are a great solution if you run out of space at home or simply don't want to bring them home with every change.
If you still prefer to store your wheels and tires at home, here are our tips for making them last longer.
In practice, the first thing to do after disassembly would be to wash your wheels and tires with soap and water and let them dry well before putting them away. It is not recommended to leave your summer tires mounted on alloy or steel wheels in the plastic bags usually provided by your garage.
Why not leave them in the bags provided by the garage?
The humidity generated by the lack of air inside the bags, added to the changes in temperature, may cause the protective clear coat on the alloy wheels to peel off where there are scratches on your wheels and for steel wheels, moisture could cause premature rust. The bags are used as a way to keep your car clean during transportation from the garage to home.
If you plan to store them outside, under a balcony or an unheated garden shed for example, it is best to clean them well, let them dry and store them in the open air to keep them looking good.
Be advised!