Feb 21, 2024
With the crazy, wild to mild weather swings we’re having across Western Canada it may be hard to believe … but spring is in the air!
In this issue of The Tracker we’re looking ahead to New Horizons—to what 2024 has in store down the road.
The replacement tire market has never been a simple or homogenous entity. However, there’s no shortage of helpful commentary as to what the next few months might hold, especially with regard to the ‘on-again off-again’ impact of EVs.
Read up on the latest in ‘Gauging the EV Conundrum in 2024; and get some inventory tips from the TIA / GFK forum held late last year on how to plan for those all important ‘bread and butter’ sizes that account for 60 percent of the market.
Federated Insurance offers a wealth of ideas on how to ensure you have a viable business interruption plan in place, which spans everything from power outages to cyber attacks and theft. As Federated says, “Risk Management is Never Done.”
We bid farewell to one of the association’s earliest and most loyal supporters, Garry Dickinson, who shaped BC’s D&D Tire into a major player in the 1970’s and early ‘80s.
If you’re in the vicinity please plan to attend the WCTD Annual General Meeting: Friday, March 15th, 2 PM at Victoria’s Grande Pacific Hotel, 463 Belleville Street.
There’s plenty more, of course, from recycling news to registration forms (for players and sponsors) for the sequel to last year’s highly successful WCTD Charity Golf Tournament, scheduled for June 23rd, 2024.
Download your Spring Tracker today!
Oct 28, 2020
Some common ignition sources for fires can occur when vehicles and equipment experience electrical malfunctions at service centres and repair shops. Highway motor vehicles, marine vehicles, recreational vehicles and equipment all contain various electrical components, such as batteries, cables and wiring, power generators and electronic control units. In a matter of minutes, your property could be engulfed in a fire as the flames from a vehicle encounter other highly combustible material as a result of ignition from an electrical source.
Real life scenario: A customer brings in a vehicle — with no immediate visible issues — to a repair shop. Later, the vehicle catches on fire and the fire extends throughout the building causing property damage. After a thorough investigation, it is discovered the cause of the fire was electrical in nature, due to the battery cable from a charger being left on all night. Charging electrical systems can build up heat, especially if damaged or if safety components like fuses fail. This heat build-up can cause components to melt and eventually ignite combustible material or even cause explosions.
Read about what precautions to take, how to protect your business and prevent life-threatening injuries here.
Sep 26, 2016
Safety Alert
On two occasions, the shop was airing up a tire and it blew off the rim at around 90 psi.
The tires had been placed inside a certified cage and a locking air chuck attached to an extension hose with an inline pressure gauge was used.
All technicians had received appropriate TIA training.
Good news – no one was injured.
Findings
A certified cage was used, thus preventing any physical injuries.
The rims were not adequately inspected before being reused.
The rims had been exposed to excessive heat causing damage to the rim and making them unfit to be used.
Learning opportunities
The use of the cage prevented potential bodily injury and property damage. This is why a cage is always used.
All rims need to be checked for damage, such as excessive heat, chips, warping, bent, etc. before being reused.
Alcoa rims have safety features:
Prior to 2009, they have a sticker that if exposed to heat will be charred.
After Jan 2009, they have a 1” clear round heat indicator located next to the roll stamp on the inside as well as a 1” clear round heat indicator on the tire side drop well.
For more information on Alcoa rims, please refer to their
Wheel Service Manual.
