ST. LOUIS — Tire wholesaler U.S. AutoForce has struck a deal with Hunter Engineering Co. to integrate Hunter's Quick Edge Tread tire inspection system with its own Tire Quote online tire search tool for the firms' mutual auto dealer customers.
Through this new partnership, service advisers at car dealerships can quote tire replacement opportunities identified by the Quick Tread Edge unmanned inspection system, providing the dealerships with opportunities to enhance their customer service and increase tire and alignment sales.
U.S. AutoForce's Tire Quote solution, available online through its website, allows users to search for and order tires by size, make of vehicle and VIN. Hunter's Quick Tread Edge uses lasers to scan each tire edge to edge automatically and provide 3-D models to illustrate the complete extent of treadwear, Hunter said.
"Auto dealers continue to grow their share of the nearly $36 billion tire replacement market, making speed and convenience key to selling more tires," Alan Hagerty, Hunter product manager, said, noting that industry research shows approximately 15% of the tires that roll through a dealership daily need immediate replacement, or replacement soon.
"With Hunter and U.S. AutoForce, auto dealers can quickly pinpoint those tire needs and easily present replacement options," he said.
U.S. AutoForce — which recently expanded its business with the acquisition of Treadmaxx Tire Distributors — joins a group of more than 20 Hunter integration partners whose integrations are available at no additional cost from Hunter.