Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      Cover-up: More retailers requiring face masks to curb COVID
      USW alleges COVID-19 violations at Kumho plant
    • Stengel promoted to president of NAPA parent Genuine Parts Co.
      Former auto exec Tyrone Jordan joins Cooper board of directors
      Bridgestone crafts virtual city to showcase sustainable-mobility initiatives
      Ford, Hyundai earn 2021 top North American vehicle honors
    • New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      H&H broadens precure OTR business with Continuum mold acquisition
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand, effective March 1
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • Gary Price to head Love's Truck Care operations
      TA opens 6th Oregon location, bringing 50 jobs to area
      Love's opens Speedco shops in Ariz., Calif., Ga.
      TIA adds more Spanish language training
    • New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Wireless auto data debate continues
      World rubber demand in 2021 to recover to 2019 levels — IRSG
    • Point S Canada adds 61 stores to network in 2020
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Ferentino Tyre opens Sri Lanka plant; eyes exports to U.S., Europe
      Sailun to expand Vietnam plant capacity over three years
    • TGI secures Cosmo-brand naming rights at Fla. race track
      Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg postponed until April
      MotoGP extends Dunlop race tire contract through 2023
      Revived Yokohama Drivers Cup to feature Ferrari, Porsche models
    • Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
      The new One: Nokian unveils all-season passenger tire
      Ford, Hyundai earn 2021 top North American vehicle honors
      BKT expanding its ATV/UTV lineup with Sierra Max Pro radials
    • Point S Canada adds 61 stores to network in 2020
      J.D. Power survey: Quick greeting key to customer satisfaction
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand, effective March 1
      Marko Ibrahim promoted to president, Bridgestone Retail Operations
    • Point S Canada adds 61 stores to network in 2020
      J.D. Power survey: Quick greeting key to customer satisfaction
      ASE opens registration for upcoming certification testing
      Bolt On, Global Payments aim for easier text payments for auto repairs
    • Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
      DUB, TIS Wheels founder Myles Kovacs is SEMA Person of the Year
      AAPEX: Using social media to promote your business
      AAPEX: Road trips trending, commuting on the wane
    • Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      2020 Review: PPP loans give boost to small businesses
      Latest COVID relief bill includes $325B in small-business support
      AAPEX: Do more cars in the shop mean more profit?
    • Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand, effective March 1
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
      Michelin completes rigid dump-truck tire lineup
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
      Safety tips for wheel balancing
      An introduction to wheel balancing
    • Video: Demounting
      Demounting Equipment
      Making rims ready for a tight seal
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
    • Video: Safety
      Making friends with OSHA
      Ergonomics on the shop floor
      Customers
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
      Staying safe when repairing a tire
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
    • Video: TMPS Service
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
      Replacement TPMS sensor overview
      The life-saving work of TPMS
    • Video: Training
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
      Options and resources for CE tech training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      All types of lifts for all types of work
      Tips and recommendations for lifting safety
      The gravity of proper lift points
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
      The danger of too much, too little torque
      The importance of torque specifications
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
July 25, 1994 02:00 AM

ZIPPER FAILURES DOG DEALERS

Chuck Slaybaugh
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    AKRON-North America's largest independent commercial dealers, who sell and service more steel-radial truck tires than anybody, are acutely aware of sidewall zipper problems in such tires. Nineteen out of 20 dealers who answered the question concerning zipper failures posed by TIRE BUSINESS on its commercial dealership survey, said they have experienced at least one of these potentially explosive sidewall ruptures.

    ``Zippers,'' which occur when the tire's radial steel cords become weakened and break, are the subject of a study by an industry task force organized by the American Retreaders' Association.

    Some survey respondents, such as Jerry Bauer, president of Durand, Wis.-based Bauer Built Inc., and a past president of the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association, and James J. Seiter, president of Fort Smith, Ark.-based Treadco Inc., called zippering a serious and increasing problem.

    On the other hand, several dealers, such as Tom Freedman, CFO for Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. in Prineville, Ore., and Brent Hesje, marketing manager for Fountain Tire in Edmonton, Alberta, described the zipper problem as ``minimal.'' And James Parkhouse, of Parkhouse Tire Inc. in Bell Gardens, Calif., said his dealership has never experienced that type of failure.

    Meanwhile, two dealers responding to the survey said they have found ways to reduce or alleviate the problem.

    John Perdue, president of Perdue Tire Inc., in Newark, Calif., said his employees are well aware of the problem and are getting better at detecting potential zippers before they occur.

    Employees of the company carefully follow recommended procedures for inspecting and handling steel radials, including airing up the tires in safety cages, inflating to 35 psi and waiting for the development of sidewall bulges and always being on the alert for the ``snap, crackle and pop'' of breaking cords, he said.

    As a result, the Perdue Tire staff has been able to detect about a dozen zippers in the making over the past six months, according to Mr. Perdue.

    Meanwhile, Thomas M. Duff, president of Southern Tire Mart Inc. in Columbia, Miss., said his company has ``implemented proper retreading, repair and inflation procedures'' that have ``virtually eliminated'' the problem of encountering zipper blowouts at his locations.

    Contacted by telephone and asked to elaborate, Mr. Duff said Southern Tire Mart has been looking into the zippering phenomenon for about two years with the help of the company's tire and retreading suppliers.

    What the dealership learned, he said, was that most zipper ruptures it investigated were the result of internal cord damage caused by underinflation or overloading-a situation made worse when the tire's user fails to mark it for special attention.

    In an effort to correct this problem, Southern Tire Mart asked its commercial customers to identify tires that had been repaired or run with low inflation pressure.

    Now, as those tires arrive at the dealership for service, workers give them extra care and attention during inspection and processing.

    Most truck owners, he said, gladly comply with the company's request, since they, too, are concerned about the liabilities posed by zipper explosions. Tires sent to dealerships by accounts known to have chronic underinflation automatically are tagged.

    As a result, Mr. Duff said, Southern Tire Mart's five Bandag plants, which retread nearly 700 truck tires per day, haven't experienced a zipper rupture in more than a year. By comparison, he said, ``we probably would have had 12-13 two years ago.''

    Mr. Duff took exception to previously published comments by dealers and retreaders who suggested zipper failures are the fault of manufacturers who aren't interested in correcting the situation.

    ``I have found that to be totally incorrect,'' said Mr. Duff, explaining representatives of each of his primary tire suppliers, Michelin, Goodyear and Bridgestone, have visited the company during the last two years to help solve its zippering problems.

    Moreover, it's unrealistic for dealers to expect manufacturers to build a tire that can't zipper, he contends. ``That's like (asking for) a tire that will never go flat or a tread that will never have irregular wear,'' Mr. Duff said.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • List Rental
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION