PM 40014105 VOLUME 7 / NUMBER 1 / FEBRUARY 2010 / $4,95 www.autosphere.ca Atlas Tire Wholesale Inc. Industry Milestones Rise to the Top Ultra-high performance all-season tire. Rim Diameter 16"-24". Ultra-high performance summer tire. Rim Diameter 16"-21". GET READY... BE TIRE SMART WEEK, MAY 17-23 2010 CONTINENTALTIRE.CA WWW.BETIRESMART.CA Autosphere_Extreme_ad.indd 1 2/2/10 11:47:00 AM RAC.indd 1 2/1/10 10:15:26 AM Contents February 2010 14 COVER STORY 34 FEATURES 8 Leader Profile 26 New Products Leading the Way Tires for 4x4s 9 Tire Dealer Insurance 34 Evolution Leading the Way Asian Tires: Better Than They Used to Be? 14 Industry Milestones 36 Aftermarket Wheels Atlas Tire Wholesale Inc. Back to the Classics 16 Scan Tools 38 Tire Business Directory Impossible to Do Without… REGULARS 20 Performance Tires Offering the Best Replacement 4 . Editorial. Tire Possible 6, 7, 33 . Industry News 24 North American International Auto Show 10, 12 . Commercial. Tires Tires Still Make the Show! 46 . Advertisers GET READY... BE TIRE SMART WEEK, MAY 17-23 2010 WWW.BETIRESMART.CA RAC.indd 1 2/1/10 10:15:26 AM EDITORIAL Do you take the time to commend your staff, recognize their successes, and celebrate their individual accomplishments? Remember— you are successful because of your employ- ees, not in spite of them. Publisher Rémy L. Rousseau Clients and suppliers Contributing Editors As you look forward to a better 2010, take the Éric Descarries time to look back at the not-so-great 2009 Copy Editor and remember the people who kept you in Shirley Brown [email protected] business—your clients. Have you thanked Production Olivier Rhême [email protected] them for their support and business? They Valérie St-Cyr [email protected] stuck with you in bad times and they deserve Circulation Manager your gratitude. Nancy Belleville [email protected] Ready for Administration Listen to their needs and wants and do what- Wendy Allain [email protected] Marie-Hélène Côté [email protected] ever you can to make all negotiations mu- Denise Prud’homme [email protected] 2010? tually beneficial. A win-win attitude is sure to Advertising We have reached the light at the create the trust and mutual respect that will Nathalie Plouffe see you working with these valued clients for 416-925-5665 [email protected] end of the recession tunnel. years to come. Luc Champagne Are you ready for it? 514-945-1299 While you’re busy bonding with your clients, [email protected] ime certainly flies when you’re busy. It don’t forget that you too are a client—one Réjean A . Rousseau seems like yesterday when we were all that needs to build strong relationships with 450-649-9007 [email protected] worried about the recession and won- your own suppliers. No doubt they are grate- T Subscription dering what 2009 would bring. The past year ful for your business and for the fact that you 1 year: $19.95 2 years: $34.95 3 years: $49.95 has been quite the adventure and the worst supported them during tough times, so why Published by certainly seems to be behind us. So with 2010 not build on those experiences for even bet- Rousseau Automotive Communication upon us, are you ready for the year ahead or is ter relationships in the future? your mind still in 2009 mode? Perhaps you need to give back a little this 455, rue Notre-Dame est, suite 311, Montréal QC, H2Y 1C9 Preparation year, especially if you benefited from your T : 514-289-0888 / 1-877-989-0888 In order to make 2010 the best it can be, may suppliers’ relaxed terms during the recession F : 514-289-5151 I recommend preparing yourself for the chal- or from their generosity. If you were able to [email protected] lenges and opportunities this year is sure to work together during tough times, certainly www.autosphere.ca bring? Whether you run a retail tire shop, are you can continue to do so well into a brighter Tire News Magazine is dedicated to serving the business on the wholesale/distribution end of the busi- future. interests of the Canadian tire industry. It is published four times a year by Rousseau Automotive Communication, a ness or whether you’re a manufacturer, as a member of AIA Canada. leader it is your responsibility to keep yourself Finally, let me recommend you visit our unique Material in Tire News Magazine may not be reproduced in fit—physically and mentally—so that you when bilingual automotive portal, www.autosphere.ca, any form without written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and opportunities or challenges arise, you will be for more great advice and industry insights. disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, able to either take advantage or overcome We, too, look forward to working with you in opinions and statements appearing within this publication them. 2010 and beyond. are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by Rousseau Automotive Communication. But don’t just look out for “number one.” You Publications Mail Agreement 40014105. Return have to keep an eye on your employees and undelivrable Canadian addresses to Rousseau Automotive Communication / Circulation help them succeed too. No business leader Department, 455, rue Notre-Dame est, suite 311, Montréal QC, H2Y 1C9 can stand alone. You need great employees working hand-in-glove to further the interests of your company. So why not take care of these valuable employees? Rémy L. Rousseau [email protected] 4 | Tire News | February 2010 | www.autosphere.ca | ca.pirelli.com P Zero the Hero: unique in technology and performance. It offers sporty driving with high quality comfort levels and greater durability. The new P Zero, already a legend, is the ultimate Pirelli low profile tire, fitted to the world’s most prestigious cars. INDUSTRY NEWS Michelin’s Detroit Auto Michelin Announces a Tenth Show Press Conference Challenge Bibendum Michelin had an impressive booth at the Michelin announced at the North American North American International Auto Show in International Auto Show in Detroit that it Canadian Tire and COSTAR Detroit in January. Other than showing its would hold its tenth Challenge Bibendum, Sign Agreement Active Wheel, Motor Wheel, EV Tire and even this time in Rio de Janeiro. Held for the first a French Venturi concept car with Michelin time in 1998, the Challenge Bibendum in- Canadian Tire signed a multi-year agreement wheel technology, the booth also became volves participants in road transportation, with COSTAR Computer Systems, a provider the stand for Dr. Patrick Oliva, global vice- vehicle manufacturers, technology developers, of automotive shop management software. president for Sustainable Development for legislators and regulators and journalists to This is part of a major initiative to upgrade the Michelin Group. witness what’s new in sustainable mobility. Canadian Tire’s automotive infrastructure to Dr. Oliva spoke about fuel efficiency, CO improve the overall service experience. 2 emissions, highly urbanized areas of emer- COSTAR’s Shop Management System will ging countries, road safety and, mostly, fuel provide Canadian Tire’s 476 automotive economy and how it is directly related to tire centres and 5,500 auto bays with world- use. He warned his listeners that if some class automotive functionality and customer- tires improve fuel economy but only last half friendly technology. as long or double the braking distance, he Customers will note easy-to-understand advised them not to buy such tires, pointing diagrams/pictures of their auto parts, along out that Michelin is currently working on a Michelin held a Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai in 2007. with installation/repair instructions, which fifth generation of green tires. can be printed to help DIYers. Staff will be Tire Manufacturers Support able to see information from auto part iden- Relief and Recovery Effort tification to labour install times, and ‘how- to-repair’ schematics; customers will have for Haiti their automotive history migrated from one In January, many manufacturers got in- location to another, allowing CTC to service volved in supporting relief and recovery ef- that customer nationally. Both customer and forts for Haiti. Among them are a few tire vehicle history will be able to be forwarded to manufacturers, including Bridgestone, who another store, along with pertinent informa- gave some $77,000 to the relief fund as the tion to assist the receiving store in welcoming headquarter in Japan contributed 2.5 million the customer with upfront knowledge of their yens (about $27,000 U.S.) to the Japanese vehicle issue; and, customers will benefit Dr Patrick Oliva warned listeners not to buy fuel- Red Cross while Bridgestone in America gave efficient tires that don’t last long enough or stop from significantly advanced systems for pre- short enough. some $25,000 to the Clinton Bush Haiti ventative maintenance schedules and new Fund and Bridgestone of Costa Rica (a coun- appointment scheduling capability. Yokohama Adds try that was also rocked by an earthquake Sizes to the recently) offered $25,000 U.S. to Habitat Millions Rolling on Bald for Humanity. On the other hand, American Tires: RMA Report AVID TRZ manufacturer Cooper pledged $25,000 to Yokohama Tire support the relief and recovery effort for Haiti Research by the Rubber Manufacturers As- Corp has added while Michelin in North America also gener- sociation (RMA) on more than 7,000 vehicles ten new H-rated ously pledged $100,000 to the American in the U.S.