Tire recall `an awakening'
The impact of the Firestone recall will go down in history as the "Awakening" to an industry that long has been taken for granted.
With tire awareness at an all-time high, it is the duty of all of us in the industry to educate the public on tire safety and maintenance.
This should never happen again!
Jim Gutierrez
Service manager
AJKL Goodyear
San Carlos, Calif.
When the dust settles on the Firestone tire recall, I bet the majority of the problem turns out to be improper inflation and abuse of the vehicle and tires due to a lack of common sense on the part of motorists.
I encounter people who plug their own tires then come to me because their repairs leak. Users need to be educated on tire maintenance.
Charles Knoor
Owner
Knoor Tire
Kansas City, Mo.
I agree with reader Mark Ewing Sr. of Capital City Tire in Indianapolis (Oct. 23 issue), who wrote that Firestone tires are taking the rap for Ford trucks. They are notorious for having caster-camber problems that cause the tires to wear down to the steel cords—especially on the inside where the motorist can't see what's happening until it's too late.
On most Ford products, we install bushings that allow caster-camber adjustments to correct such problems. The front ends on all vehicles should be checked twice a year, which we offer to do as a free customer service. We also rotate and balance tires every 6,000 miles without charge when lifetime balancing is purchased.
We are a Goodyear dealership and the recall has helped our sales.
John Klein
Store manager
Vespia Goodyear
Rio Grande, N.J.
Considering the public's new-found tire awareness brought on by the Firestone recall, I think the Rubber Manufacturers Association should re-issue its technical bulletin on sidewall indentations in radial tires (to reassure anyone worried about these harmless imperfections).
Jim Batterman
Manager
T.R.L. Tire
South Chicago Heights, Ill.
Editor's note: RMA Technical Information Service Bulletin Vol. 21, No. 2, "Sidewall indentations in radial tires," can be obtained for $1.25 by calling the association's publications distributor at (800) 325-5095 or (330) 723-2978, ext. 242.
The following are excerpts of responses to the question below by visitors to TB's Web site, www.tirebusiness.com.
As newcomers to the workforce, are today's young people different than previous generations?
The world has gotten smaller thanks to computers, and the tire industry must adapt to this new and ever-changing technology.
If young people are not offered options, you will not keep them as employees. Remember, these young people are really interviewing you for a career.
John Goodwin
Executive Director
Ontario Tire Dealers Association
London, Ontario
I have tried during the hiring process to make sure these new employees understand I am looking for people who want a "career" and not a "job."
We emphasize this idea of a career path. It may not be for everyone, but we have a great mentoring program with tech schools and it seems to be working.
Kids today think nothing of having eight or 10 jobs during their lifetime.
Barry Steinberg
President/CEO
Direct Tire and Auto Service
Watertown, Mass.