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
    • TBC Corp. to make donation to company charity to reward vaccinated employees
      Titan to offer free COVID-19 vaccines at Iowa facility
      Bridgestone hosts vaccination events for plant employees
      Cioffi: Will remote working be the new normal?
    • SEMA closes deal for SEMA Garage property in Michigan
      Conti adding dynamic driving simulator at German R&D center
      Yokohama gains OE fitments on BMW, Mercedes-AMG sport utilities
      SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
    • Pirelli adds 3rd North American bicycle tire distributor
      Goodyear goes retro for 'Throwback' NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway
      Keter to expand NeoTerra SKUs through mid-2022
      Federal approved as 5th Formula Drift tire supplier
    • JK Tyre adds radial truck tires to U.S. portfolio
      Mitchell 1 enhances ADAS info access in TruckSeries software
      Apollo isn't planning U.S. plant — yet
      Tire Business livestream to focus on commercial tire industry
    • New York chipping in $3M+ toward Sumitomo factory expansion
      SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      U.S. agro-science firm gets $1M grant to research sunflower latex
    • Fountain Tire promotes pair to new executive roles
      ETRMA adding Nexen and Czech and Slovak trade groups to membership
      Keter to expand NeoTerra SKUs through mid-2022
      Nexen touting manufacturing quality milestone
    • Goodyear goes retro for 'Throwback' NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway
      Federal approved as 5th Formula Drift tire supplier
      Maxxis offers discount to ChampCar competitors
      Michelin strikes supply deals with new Canadian racing series
    • Bosch adds 22 aftermarket parts in Q1
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
      Vogue Tyre introduces ‘biggest, boldest' red stripe tire
      Cooper adds Rugged Trek all-terrain to Discoverer LT/SUV tire line
    • TBC Corp. to make donation to company charity to reward vaccinated employees
      Fountain Tire promotes pair to new executive roles
      Epicor service estimator to offer access to TireConnect by Bridgestone
      JK Tyre adds radial truck tires to U.S. portfolio
    • Bosch adds 22 aftermarket parts in Q1
      Marinucci: Detailed instructions will save time
      Bartec introduces TPMS software updates
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
    • SEMA closes deal for SEMA Garage property in Michigan
      SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      SEMA touts expanded Las Vegas Convention Center ahead of 2021 expo
      TIA seeking nominations for Tire Industry Hall of Fame
    • SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      Giti disputes report blasting tire maker for accepting PPP funds
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • Last Mile: Delivery surge raises demand for medium truck tires
      Nexen touting manufacturing quality milestone
      Apollo isn't planning U.S. plant — yet
      Apollo lands: Tire maker brings commercial portfolio to N.A.
    • 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
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      Safety tips for wheel balancing
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
    • Video: Demounting
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
      How to clear rim rust and corrosion
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
    • Video: Safety
      Customers
      Considerations for shop safety policies
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
    • Video: TPMS Service
      The life-saving work of TPMS
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
    • Video: Training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
      Choosing the right auto service tech school
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      The gravity of proper lift points
      Safety essentials when using jack stands
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      The importance of torque specifications
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
July 17, 2006 02:00 AM

Tire Business Marketplace

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Super-sized dummies

    How fat are Americans getting? Think of that old joke: When he (or she) sits around the house, he really sits around the house.

    One need look no further than the use of plus-size cyber-mannequins to help U.S. vehicle designers create compatible car interiors.

    Nearly one in three Americans meets the American Medical Association's classification of ``obese.'' In 1962, according to a Ford Motor Co. newsletter, a woman weighing 199 pounds ranked in the 95th percentile for weight and had an average hip width of 17.1 inches. By 2000, women in the 95th percentile weighed 27 pounds more-226 pounds-and their hip width grew 2.6 inches. During that same period, those females grew an inch taller.

    A man in 1962 weighing 217 pounds ranked in the 95th percentile for weight and had an average hip width of 15.9 inches. By 2000, men in that percentile were 27 pounds heavier-244 pounds-while their hip width grew 1.3 inches and their height increased by 1.2 inches.

    Ford has developed what it's calling an industry-first set of nine human computer-aided design (CAD) virtual mannequins aimed at representing the population's more extreme body dimensions. The company said it is using the CAD models to make sure its vehicles meet customer wants, such as large amounts of storage space in front-seat consoles, while accommodating the greatest range of body types. (What about more holders for super-sized soft drink cups and french fries?)

    The car maker's ergonomists, for example, used the virtual mannequins to evaluate the cabin of the new 2007 Ford Edge, assessing its ability to comfortably accommodate a variety of body shapes and sizes.

    ``Our customer population is changing,'' said Lucy K. White, a Ford ergonomics researcher. ``But with virtual mannequins, and not cyber stick figures, we're able to properly represent our physically diverse customer base-from petite to plus-size-and better size up vehicle interiors to fit their needs.''

    The statistics, and the bases for the nine virtual models, come from the U.S. government. Starting in the 1960s, and every decade thereafter, government researchers gather basic data about its citizens-including height, weight and a few other body dimensions.

    The firm said the mannequins can be positioned in and around vehicles in various postures to examine their interaction with the environment. (See the mannequin holding a triple-decker cheeseburger while attempting to inhale a Slurpee and operate the car radio.)

    ``Because of increased obesity, more of today's motorists are grappling with tighter fits around steering wheels, armrests and in seats,'' explained Gary Rupp, a Ford ergonomics research engineer. ``Our goal is to leverage this technology to make our vehicles more comfortable-and more ergonomically appealing-for the full gamut of customers, including people of size.''

    Translation: horizontally and/or vertically challenged people who love to eat.

    Sign-off

    He always calls 'em as he sees 'em. That's what's so refreshing about Roland Lesieur, treasurer of Nashua, N.H.-based wholesaler Maynard & Lesieur Inc.

    In a recent edition of his stream-of-consciousness column in the company's newsletter, Mr. Lesieur noted that his largest supplier of tires, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., ``isn't going to like my comments on their new company logo.'' He goes on to say Maynard & Lesieur ``recently had to update our old Cooper sign on our main garage with the new logo, (shown above) and it's not visible from a distance.

    ``It's OK if you are in the yard, but in my opinion, the brass has relatives in the sign business.''

    Mr. Lesieur added that, in his humble opinion, ``the Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop and Michelin logos all look better from a distance.''

    This, that 'n other stuff

    The next crisis?-That's what the New York Post asked recently, referring to male anorexia.

    The news item in the Miami Herald said the Post ``spilled the beans'' on a story in Best Life magazine in which 51-year-old actor Dennis Quaid talks about his battle with the deadly eating disorder, which he labeled ``manorexia.'' Catchy.

    * * *

    ``Pull over''-You just got a screamin' new ride, where ya headed? Not Disney World, for sure.

    An AutoWeek reader almost got a free trip to the pokey. He told the magazine, a sister pub of Tire Business, that he'd just taken delivery of a new Ford GT when, moments later, a police officer pulled him over. Why? In the cop's words, ``That's a badass car... I just didn't think it was street legal.''

    The driver only had the car's title for less than eight minutes. The odo read 1.1 miles.

    * * *

    One size squeezes all-Congressional arguments about gasoline prices and fuel economy are notorious for their tedium.

    But occasionally, reported Automotive News, there's a nice turn of a phrase. Take Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who's an opponent of any dramatic increase in the corporate annual fuel economy (CAFE) standard for new cars. Expecting such a rule to solve the nation's energy problems, he said at a recent Capitol Hill hearing, is like believing you can ``make a fat person skinny by mandating smaller pants sizes.''

    How about smaller pizza sizes?

    * * *

    Fugedaboudit-Last year BaBing Inc. released a job search engine on the Internet linking more than 4,000 college campuses to employers across the nation.

    Tony Soprano wants to make it perfectly clear that endeavor is in no way to be confused with his friendly, ahem, family-oriented ``Badabing'' watering hole. Got it?

    Don't use retreads

    In the inimitable fashion of David Letterman's ``Top 10'' lists, the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB) has issued its very own ``Top 10 Reasons Owner Operators and Truck and Bus Fleets Don't Buy Retreaded Tires.''

    But before you tear up your membership card and send the pieces to Managing Director Harvey Brodsky, be aware that TRIB qualifies the following by saying, ``Sound ridiculous? That's because it is! There is simply no good reason not to use retreaded tires on truck and buses.''

    That somewhat takes the fun out of the following:

    10. The trucking and busing industries in North America may have purchased more retreads than new replacement tires last year, but why should I have to play follow-the-leader just to be successful?

    9. Sure I know the really successful fleets with good tire programs run as many as two and three retreads for every new tire, but I'm just a little guy and I don't want to make as much money as they do. The taxes would kill me!

    8. When I buy a really good apple, I throw it away after only enjoying about one-third of it. Why shouldn't I be satisfied getting only a one-third return on my tire investment?

    7. The new-tire manufacturing companies need my money more than I do.

    6. My telephone psychic says I should only buy new tires.

    5. Don't confuse me with the facts.

    4. My brother-in-law told me about his bad experiences with ``recaps'' back in 1956.

    3. I took a vow of poverty.

    2. I like spending more money than I need to for tires.

    1. I drive a commercial vehicle for a hobby. Money means nothing to me!

    All we got out of our psychic was: ``Keep on truckin'.''

    Edited by Sigmund J. Mikolajczyk

    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
    • 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
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award