Tire Changer Q & A Tire Changer Q & A We talk to Pete Liebetreu of Hunter Engineering on Tire Changers This month we talk to Pete Liebetreu, tire changer product manager of Hunter Engineering, on the future of the market and how shops can get the most out of this vital piece of equipment for most undercar shops. BRAKE & FRONT END: With Michelin giving up on selling its PAX system to OEMs and other tire makers... More

Alignment Update: Consider Long-Term Value of Equipment Alignments are an equipment-intensive business. Purchasing this equipment is often done with the state-of-mind of “who is the least expensive.” But, “least expensive” is a relative term that can be narrow or broad in definition and scope. Least expensive can be looked from two different perspectives. Short-term is looking at just the one-time purchase price. While, long-term means looking at the... More

Selling Services...Fitment Blues: Solving Aftermarket Wheel Problems Aftermarket wheel installation requires much more than just placing the wheel on the hub and tightening the lug nuts. It involves a great deal of knowledge and expertise that, admittedly, very few people have. Here is just one scenario that may help you avoid or diagnose a problem. Case Study A customer complains that his or her vehicle has a vibration, either while driving under normal conditions... More

Wheel Balancing: Making a Smart Investment in a Wheel Balancer When you consider that only 1/4-ounce of wheel imbalance can produce a noticeable vibration on a vehicle, it’s easy to understand why it’s so important to have a wheel balancer that is both accurate and easy to use. Many balancers in today’s marketplace are capable of balancing a wheel to within a few hundredths of an ounce, and provide various features to help the technician position the weights... More