ITEC speakers to discuss consumer info trends

AKRON (Sept. 13, 2016) — Three tire industry experts, including the tire project leader for Consumer Reports magazine, will provide insight on Sept. 14 into the types of information consumers need and want on tires at a panel discussion during this year's International Tire & Exhibition Conference in Akron.  

The panel discussion, which is part of a consumer information unit within this year's ITEC, will cover what tire performance information consumers have available and whether it is important and helpful, or extraneous, along with discussing how consumers can go about securing information they would like but for which reliable sources can be hard to find.

The panel also will discuss how consumers can best be provided information about a potential tire purchase; how helpful government standards are; and other important questions focusing on the needs and expectations of the consumer.

The panel will be held from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron, in the Firestone/Omnova Solutions room.

The panelists are:

• Eugene (Gene) Peterson of Consumer Reports;

• Marvin Bozarth, senior technical consultant for the Tire Industry Association; and

• Walter H. Waddell, ExxonMobil, retired. Mr. Waddell is a scientist and ITEC co-chairman who has worked with government agencies, manufacturers and technical groups around the world on tire safety and performance.

The panel will be moderated by Larry Evans, a retired National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research analyst, whose primary job was analyzing data from NHTSA's extensive tire and vehicle testing programs. Mr. Evans is an active industry consultant and ITEC co-chairman.

The panel discussion is part of a consumer information unit within this year's ITEC.

Other consumer-related presentations, all on Sept. 14 in the H.S. Firestone/Omnova Solutions Room, are:

• Tire Quality Grading: Where are we after 50 years? — Mr. Evans, 9:30 to 10 a.m.;

• NHTSA in the Rear View Mirror: Reflections of a retired tire compliance engineer — George Gillespie, president & CEO, Gillespie Automotive Safety Services; 10 to 10:30 a.m.;

• An Outlook of Consumer On-line Viewing Trends of Tires at Consumer Reports — Mr. Peterson; 11 to 11:30 a.m.;

• Why Tire Fuel Efficiency Data is not in the Marketplace — Ray Tuvell, California Energy Commission, Retired, 11:30 a.m to noon;  

• UTQG: Consumer Education, Care has Everything to do With It — Pam Oakes, owner, Pam's Motor City Tire & Auto Center, 1:30 to 2 p.m.;

• Tire Aging and Roadwheel Testing — David Howland, General Motors Co., 2 to 2:30 p.m.;

• Using Rating Systems to Assist Consumers Select Fuel Efficient Tires and Protect Environment — Madhura Rajapakshe. Test R&D Project Engineer, Smithers Rapra, 2:30 to 3 p.m.;

• Tire Rolling Resistance and Vehicle Fuel Economy — Mr. Waddell, 3:30 to 4 p.m.

• The Economics of Fuel Efficient Tires: Tire Calculator — Mr. Tuvell, 4 to 4:30 p.m.

ITEC is organized by Rubber & Plastics News, a sister publication of Tire Business. For more information about the panels, and all the conference programs, visit the ITEC website.